Description
Homemade apple pecan cake with caramel glaze combines sweet autumn flavors in a perfect seasonal dessert. Rich layers of spiced cake showcase fresh apples and crunchy pecans, complemented by a silky caramel drizzle you’ll savor to the last delicious bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 cups (710 ml) peeled and chopped apples (such as Granny Smith)
- 1 cup (150 g) chopped pecans
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter (softened)
- ½ cup (120 ml) sour cream
- 2 cups (240 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
- 1 cup (220 g) packed light brown sugar
- ½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter
- 1 cup (220 g) packed light brown sugar
- ¼ cup (60 ml) heavy cream
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- ½ tsp ground cloves
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish thoroughly with flour to prevent sticking.
- Dry Ingredient Fusion: Whisk flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves in a mixing bowl until uniformly combined.
- Butter Transformation: Cream butter with granulated and brown sugars until achieving a light, fluffy consistency that promises a tender crumb.
- Liquid Integration: Blend eggs one at a time, then mix in vanilla extract and sour cream until the batter becomes smooth and homogeneous.
- Batter Assembly: Gently fold dry ingredients into the wet mixture, maintaining a delicate touch to preserve the batter’s airy texture. Carefully fold in chopped apples and pecans, ensuring even distribution throughout.
- Baking Process: Pour batter into prepared dish, spreading evenly. Bake for 45-50 minutes, checking doneness with a toothpick that should emerge clean when inserted into the cake’s center.
- Caramel Glaze Creation: Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add brown sugar and heavy cream, stirring constantly until the mixture reaches a rolling boil. Cook for exactly one minute, then remove from heat and incorporate vanilla extract.
- Glaze Application: While cake is still warm, puncture the surface extensively with a skewer or fork. Generously pour the caramel glaze over the cake, allowing it to seep into the created channels.
- Serving Suggestion: Allow cake to cool completely before cutting. Enhance the experience by serving with a luxurious scoop of vanilla ice cream for the ultimate indulgence.
Notes
- Avoid Overmixing: Gently fold dry ingredients to maintain cake’s light, fluffy texture and prevent a dense, tough result.
- Room Temperature Ingredients: Ensure butter, eggs, and sour cream are at room temperature for smoother blending and more even baking.
- Precise Apple Preparation: Dice apples uniformly to guarantee consistent moisture and prevent excess liquid in the cake.
- Glaze Timing Matters: Pour caramel glaze while cake is warm to allow maximum absorption and deep flavor penetration.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 35 g
- Sodium: 250 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 52 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg