Toffee Apple Cake – A Quick and Simple Dessert

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

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 toffee apple cake 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. Along with this warm and creamy coconut rice pudding, it’s one of my favorite cozy desserts.

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

The inspiration for this decadent 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 served the toffee sauce with this banana cake (skipping the 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 (or butterscotch) sauce and a caramel sauce is the temperature it is cooked to, and the fact that caramel is made with white sugar and toffee with brown sugar. 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!

What Makes this Toffee Apple Cake Work

This sticky toffee apple cake is the perfect autumn dessert – along with these pumpkin oatmeal muffins, it’s a must for fall baking in my house.

The perfect flavor and textures. Toffee apple cake has a rich and complex flavor that is perfect for the fall season. The sweetness of the apples and toffee sauce is balanced by the tartness of the apples and the warmth of the cinnamon. It is a fluffy and moist cake, with sweet, tender apple chunks.

It’s easy to make. It requires only a few simple ingredients and can be assembled in a matter of minutes. The cake is also very forgiving, so it is perfect for bakers of all skill levels.

Ingredient Notes

For the Cake

Apples

I used honeycrisp apples, since I prefer a sweeter apple for this recipe. Other good options are gala, fuji, braeburn, or pink lady. You want a firm apple that will hold its shape when baked. Here’s a comprehensive list of the best baking apples.

First peel the apples, and then core them before dicing them into 1/4 inch pieces.

Brown Sugar

Brown sugar gives the cake a richer flavor and moist texture. You can use light or dark brown sugar, depending on your preference. The brown sugar will also be used for the toffee sauce that will go on top of the toffee apple cake.

Eggs

The egg helps to bind the ingredients together and gives the cake a light and fluffy texture. Make sure to use room temperature eggs.

Butter

Butter adds richness and flavor to the cake. I like to use unsalted butter for baking, so I can control the saltiness of the recipe. Butter should be softened at room temperature.

Flour

I find all purpose flour is the best choice for the texture of this toffee apple cake recipe, but you can also use cake flour. If you want a healthier cake, you can substitute whole wheat flour for some of the all purpose flour.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon gives the cake a warm and spicy flavor. You can adjust the amount of cinnamon to taste.

For the Warm Toffee Sauce

Heavy Cream

Heavy cream gives the sauce a creamy and smooth texture. You can substitute half-and-half or even whole milk, but the sauce will not be as thick and creamy.

Salt

A little salt helps to balance the sweetness and richness of the sugar and butter. It also enhances the flavor of the other ingredients and gives the sauce a more complex taste.

How to Make this Easy Toffee Apple Cake

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F. Butter and flour an 8-inch round springform tin or cake pan. An 8×8 square baking pan also works well, although the cake will be a little thinner. If using a cake pan, also line the bottom with parchment paper for easy cake removal.

2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients – the all purpose flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.

3. In a large separate bowl, combine the wet ingredients. First, cream the unsalted butter and brown sugar on medium speed for about 3-4 minutes, until pale and fluffy.

4. Now add the eggs and vanilla extract. Mix on medium high speed until combined. Don’t worry if the cake batter looks slightly curdled at this point.

5. Add the dry ingredients to the large bowl and mix on low speed until just combined.

6. Now fold in the diced apples until well distributed in the batter.

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

8. Once the cake is baked, let it cool in the pan for 20 minutes. If you used a cake pan, use a knife to loosen the edges of the cake from the pan, then flip the cake onto a wire rack and peel off the parchment paper. If you used a springform pan, simply remove the sides.

Note that the top of the cake will look quite dark since it is made with only brown sugar (see below), but don’t worry the cake is as moist, fluffy, and tender as can be!

9. While the cake is cooling, make the warm toffee sauce. Combine the unsalted butter, brown sugar, cream, and salt in a medium saucepan over medium heat.

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

11. Now add in the vanilla extract and mix. The hot toffee sauce is done.

Serve the toffee apple cake warm or at room temperature, with a spoonful or two of the warm toffee sauce and maybe some ice cream over the top of the cake. This is the perfect cake for your fall and holiday gatherings!

Storage Instructions

The toffee apple cake can be stored at room temperature for up to 3 days. To store the cake, place it in an airtight container. If you need to store the cake for longer, you can refrigerate it for up to 1 week. To refrigerate the cake, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil before placing it in the refrigerator.

To serve a refrigerated toffee apple cake, let it come to room temperature for at least 30 minutes before slicing and serving.

You can also freeze toffee apple cake for up to 3 months. To freeze the cake, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and then in aluminum foil. When you are ready to serve the cake, thaw it overnight in the refrigerator.

As for the toffee sauce that goes on top of the cake, try to store it separately. To store the sauce, place it in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to two weeks. When you are ready to serve the sauce, warm it up gently in a saucepan over low heat. You can also microwave the sauce in short bursts at low power, stirring in between each burst, until it is warmed through.

A few more favorite desserts for holiday baking

Orange Loaf Cake

Mini No Bake Lemon cheesecake tarts

Orange Cake with Orange Cream Cheese Frosting

Gingerbread Cake with Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting

Quebec Sugar Pie