No matter how warm it is in Southern California, during the Fall I crave all things apple, cinnamon, and pumpkin. I miss those east-coast Fall days when the air is crisp and it feels so good enjoying a cup of hot apple cider. Since I love Fall so much, I decided to make myself this Apple Walnut Cake with Salted Caramel Frosting.
How to make Salted Caramel Frosting? Do I need to make it all from scratch?
Nope! For this recipe, I simply bought store-bought caramel sauce from Trader Joe’s, but you can find caramel sauce at any grocery store. Simply mix the caramel sauce with butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, milk, and sea salt, and voila, you have Salted Caramel Frosting! So simple!
Can I use any kind of apple for this Apple Spice Cake?
No. You need to use a tart apple, and I suggest going with Granny Smith Apples. You can easily find them at the grocery store or farmer’s market this time of year. If not, you can try Honeycrisp apples.
How come you’re using applesauce and apples in this Applesauce Cake?
I added apples for that lovely texture it lends. I added applesauce to cut down on the amount of oil used in this recipe. Applesauce is a great way to add moisture without fat. Make sure you use unsweetened applesauce.
Can I make Apple Walnut Cake gluten-free?
Absolutely! Simply replace all-purpose flour with gluten-free flour. I recommend Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free Flour.
Apple Walnut Cake with Salted Caramel Frosting is:
Indulgent Sweet & Salty Perfect with Coffee A Fall Cake Loaded with Fall Flavors Delicious
How to make Apple Walnut Cake with Salted Caramel Frosting recipe step by step?
Prep
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 2. In a medium-size mixing bowl, combine the dry ingredients. Stir and set aside. 3. In a large mixing bowl, combine the wet ingredients. 4. Using an electric mixer, mix until well combined. Set aside.
- Chop the walnuts. 6. Finely chop a Granny Smith Apple.
Make the Apple Walnut Cake
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet in 2 batches. 2. Mix well until well combined, however DO NOT OVERMIX.
- Add the chopped walnuts and apple to the batter. Fold ingredients into the batter. 4. Pour batter into a well-greased 9″ round cake pan. You can also use a square cake pan.
- Bake cake for 40 minutes at 350 degrees. Make sure you check the cake after 30 minutes every 5 minutes as oven temperatures vary. The cake is done. Let it cool for 45 minutes before flipping.
Make the Salted Caramel Frosting
- In a large mixing bowl, combine all the ingredients except milk and salt. So combine butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and store-bought caramel sauce. Blend with an electric mixer. 2. Add milk and salt. Mix well. 3. Now you should have perfectly smooth and creamy salted caramel frosting. 4. Once the cake cools, carefully flip it onto a cake stand. Frost with Salted Caramel Frosting once completely cooled. Drizzle caramel sauce on top and garnish with chopped walnuts.
Enjoy with Coffee!
More Fall Desserts!
Date Walnut Coffee Cake Apple Cinnamon Pecan Bread Pumpkin Bundt Cake with Maple Cream Cheese Glaze Pumpkin Brioche Bread Pudding Whole-Wheat Banana Walnut Muffins Mom’s Vegan Banana Bread with Walnuts Healthy Pumpkin Oat Muffins