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    Home » Dessert

    Toffee Apple Cake

    Originally Published: Oct 16, 2019 · Last Updated: Feb 28, 2020 by Ann · This post may contain affiliate links ·

    164 shares
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    A slice of apple cake on a plate with toffee sauce poured over it.

    This is a simple toffee apple cake with warm fall flavors of cinnamon and brown sugar and chunks of tender apple. The cake is lovely on its own, but spectacularly good served with a warm buttery toffee sauce.

    A slice of apple cake on a plate with toffee sauce poured over it.

    *This post probably contains affiliate links. Please see my full disclosure policy for details.

    I'm the first to admit that I have a tendency to overthink things when I entertain. I can spend hours poring over cookbooks trying to craft the perfect menu.

    But looking back, my favorite hosting experiences were the ones where I kept things simple. With tried and true, uncomplicated recipes that I could make ahead and that didn't break the bank.

    This apple cake with toffee sauce is the perfect embodiment of that philosophy. It's a simple recipe you can easily make ahead, and it is absolutely guaranteed to please everyone at your table.

    The cake is tender and moist with juicy chunks of apple, and the warm toffee sauce really takes it over the top. Imagine a caramel apple in cake form.

    The inspiration for this dessert comes from a sticky toffee pudding I often make at the holidays, but with an apple cake instead of a date cake. I've also made it with this banana cake (with the toffee sauce instead of frosting), which is also amazing!

    What's the difference between toffee sauce and caramel sauce?

    In case you were wondering (as I was), the difference between a toffee sauce and a caramel sauce is just the temperature it is cooked to. Because caramel is cooked to a higher temperature, it has those toasty, slightly bitter notes.

    This toffee sauce is more of a mellow, but no less delicious, flavor. It's also easier to make and no candy thermometer necessary!

    How to Make this Easy Toffee Apple Cake

    1. Preheat the oven to 350 F. Butter and flour an 8-inch round cake pan or springform pan. If using a cake pan, also line the bottom with parchment paper for easy cake removal.
    2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.
    3. Peel, core and cut apples into small chunks, until you have 2 cups of apples (2-3 medium size apples). I used sweetango, but other good varieties are granny smith, fuji, or honeycrisp. You want a firm apple that will hold its shape when baked.

    A bowl of flour and other dry ingredients for making a cake, with a whisk, and an apple being cut into chunks on a cutting board

    4. In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the butter and brown sugar on medium speed for about 3-4 minutes, until pale and fluffy.

    5. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add the eggs and vanilla. Mix on medium high speed until combined. Don't worry if the mixture looks curdled at this point.

    6. Add the dry ingredients to the stand mixer and mix on low speed until just combined.

    Four images of a mixing bowl in a stand mixer. Butter and sugar creamed together, with eggs and vanilla added, with ingredients combined and with flour added

    7. Remove the bowl from the stand mixer and fold in the apple pieces until well distributed in the batter.

    8. Spread the thick batter into the prepared pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

    Apple pieces being folded into cake batter and batter being spread in a round cake pan

    9. While the cake is baking, make the toffee sauce. Combine butter, brown sugar, cream, vanilla, and salt in a medium saucepan.

    10. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes.

    Ingredients for toffee sauce in a saucepan, and combined and simmering

    Serve the cake warm or at room temperature, with a spoonful or two of toffee sauce over the top.

    A slice of apple cake on a plate with toffee sauce poured over it.

    Enjoy! xx

    Sound good to you? If you make this recipe, I would love it if you would take a pic and tag me on Instagram @ourhappymess!

    Or pin for later!

    A slice of apple cake on a plate with toffee sauce poured over it.

    And if you're looking for more easy dessert inspiration, follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. Or be old-fashioned and subscribe in the sidebar on the right to get every new recipe in your inbox 🙂

    A few more great holiday cakes

    Cherry Chocolate Bundt Cake

    Banana Cake with Fluffy Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting

    Orange Cake with Orange Cream Cheese Frosting

    Gingerbread Cake with Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting

    Moist Carrot Cake with Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting

    A slice of apple cake on a plate with toffee sauce poured over it.

    Toffee Apple Cake

    This is a simple apple cake with warm fall flavors of cinnamon and brown sugar and chunks of tender apple, served with a warm toffee sauce.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate Save Saved!
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 40 minutes
    Servings: 8 servings
    Calories: 419kcal
    Author: Ann Otis

    Ingredients

    Cake

    • 1 cup all-purpose flour
    • 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
    • ½ cup unsalted butter softened
    • ⅔ cup brown sugar
    • 2 eggs
    • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
    • 2 cups apples cut into small chunks

    Toffee Sauce

    • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
    • ½ cup brown sugar
    • ½ cup heavy cream
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

    Instructions

    Cake

    • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour an 8 inch round cake or springform pan. If using a cake pan, line the bottom with parchment paper before flouring the pan.
    • In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon.
    • In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the butter and brown sugar until pale and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
    • Beat in the eggs and vanilla extract until well combined. Don’t worry if it looks curdled at this point.
    • Add the flour mixture and mix on low speed until just combined.
    • Add the apples and mix on low speed, or stir with a spoon, until evenly distributed.
    • Bake in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean.
    • Allow the cake to cool in the pan for about 20 minutes. If using a cake pan, run a knife between the pan sides and cake, turn out onto a wire rack and remove the parchment paper. If using a springform pan remove the sides.

    Toffee Sauce

    • While the cake is cooling, combine the butter, brown sugar, cream, vanilla, and salt in a medium saucepan.
    • Bring to a boil over medium high heat.
    • Reduce heat to medium low and simmer until the sauce starts to thicken, about 10 minutes.
    • Cool slightly and spoon over cake servings.

    Notes

    The toffee sauce will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-4 days, or a couple of weeks at least in the refrigerator. Reheat briefly in the microwave or stovetop to serve with cake.
    The cake will also keep for 2-3 days at room temperature in an airtight container, or in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 419kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 107mg | Sodium: 179mg | Potassium: 195mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 35g | Vitamin A: 824IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 84mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Tag it Today!Mention @OurHappyMess or tag #OurHappyMess!
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    Ann from Our Happy Mess

    I'm Ann and I believe in balanced eating, homemade foods, and DESSERT. I love to cook, but I can't spend all day in the kitchen anymore, so what you'll mostly find here are simple, family-friendly recipes. I'm really happy you're here!
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