Description
Homemade apple pecan cake with caramel glaze celebrates autumn’s rich flavors and comforting textures. Southern bakers craft this dessert with carefully selected ingredients, creating a delightful treat you’ll savor with each memorable bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 medium apples, peeled, cored, and diced (about 2 cups)
- 1 cup pecans, chopped
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ tsps baking soda
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- ¼ tsp ground cloves (optional)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Ingredient Preparation: Combine flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves in a mixing bowl, ensuring uniform distribution of dry ingredients.
- Butter Mixture: Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, creating a smooth base for the cake batter. Add eggs one at a time, blending thoroughly after each addition, then incorporate vanilla extract and sour cream for rich moisture.
- Batter Assembly: Delicately fold dry ingredients into the wet mixture, minimizing stirring to maintain the cake’s tender texture. Gently fold in diced apples and chopped pecans, distributing evenly throughout the batter.
- Baking Process: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Pour batter into a prepared baking pan, smoothing the surface for consistent baking. Bake in the oven’s center for 40-55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Cooling Stage: Rest the cake in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. This allows the cake to set and develop its full flavor profile.
- Caramel Glaze Creation: In a saucepan, melt butter, then add brown sugar and heavy cream. Bring to a gentle boil, stirring continuously. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla extract, and allow to cool and thicken slightly.
- Finishing Touch: Generously drizzle the caramel glaze over the cooled cake, ensuring an even distribution that cascades down the sides. Let the glaze set for a few minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld and surface to stabilize.
Notes
- Select Perfect Apples: Choose firm, slightly tart varieties like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp that maintain structure during baking and provide balanced flavor complexity.
- Prevent Pecan Burning: Toast pecans lightly before adding to batter to enhance nutty flavor and prevent scorching during baking, ensuring a rich, deep taste profile.
- Control Moisture Balance: Pat apple chunks dry with paper towels to minimize excess liquid, preventing soggy cake texture and maintaining ideal structural integrity.
- Glaze Temperature Matters: Allow caramel glaze to cool slightly before drizzling, ensuring it’s thick enough to cling beautifully to cake sides without completely running off, creating an elegant, professional finish.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 40 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 58 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg