7 Apple Cakes That Taste Like Fall in Every Bite

Quick Summary

Apple cakes bring the cozy warmth of fall straight to your kitchen with flavors like caramel, cinnamon, browned butter, and toffee. From rich caramel apple spice cake to crumb-topped classics with cinnamon drizzle, these seven recipes capture everything people love about autumn desserts. Each cake comes with easy-to-follow ingredients and instructions so you can bake them at home and enjoy the comforting taste of fall in every slice.

1. Caramel Apple Spice Cake Recipe

Caramel apple spice cake combines tender apple cake with warm spices and a sweet caramel finish that feels like autumn in every forkful.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 ½ tsp cinnamon
  • ½ tsp nutmeg
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 ½ cups brown sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 cups peeled and diced apples
  • ½ cup caramel sauce

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch cake pans.
  2. In a bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
  3. In another bowl, beat oil, sugar, eggs, and vanilla until creamy.
  4. Mix in dry ingredients, then fold in apples.
  5. Pour into pans and bake 30–35 minutes.
  6. Drizzle with caramel sauce before serving.

2. Apple Pie Layer Cake with Caramel Frosting Recipe

Apple pie layer cake blends pie-style filling with moist cake and caramel frosting for a bakery-worthy fall dessert.

Ingredients:

  • 2 ½ cups flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 4 eggs
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 3 cups apple pie filling (homemade or canned)
  • 1 cup caramel frosting

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease three 8-inch pans.
  2. Cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time.
  3. Mix in dry ingredients alternately with buttermilk.
  4. Divide batter into pans and bake 25–30 minutes.
  5. Layer cakes with apple pie filling, then frost with caramel.

3. Apple Crisp Cake Recipe

Apple crisp cake delivers a soft apple base with a crunchy oat topping, inspired by the classic dessert.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp cinnamon
  • ½ tsp nutmeg
  • 1 ½ cups sugar
  • ½ cup butter, softened
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup milk
  • 2 cups diced apples

Topping:

  • ½ cup rolled oats
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • ¼ cup flour
  • ¼ cup melted butter

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13 pan.
  2. Beat butter and sugar until fluffy, then add eggs and milk.
  3. Stir in dry ingredients, fold in apples, and pour into pan.
  4. Mix topping and sprinkle over batter.
  5. Bake 35–40 minutes until golden brown.

4. Browned Butter Apple Spice Cake Recipe

Browned butter apple spice cake is rich, nutty, and filled with warm spices for a comforting fall treat.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup browned butter (cooled)
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 2 tsp vanilla
  • 2 ½ cups flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • ½ tsp cloves
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 2 cups diced apples

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease two 8-inch pans.
  2. Beat browned butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla.
  3. Add dry ingredients and mix well. Fold in apples.
  4. Bake 30–35 minutes. Cool before slicing.

5. Apple Harvest Layer Cake Recipe

Apple harvest cake brings layers of spiced apple cake together with cream cheese frosting for a holiday-ready dessert.

Ingredients:

  • 2 ½ cups flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 2 tsp cinnamon
  • ½ tsp nutmeg
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 cup oil
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 4 eggs
  • 3 cups diced apples
  • 1 cup walnuts (optional)
  • Cream cheese frosting

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease three 8-inch pans.
  2. Beat oil, sugar, and eggs until smooth.
  3. Add dry ingredients, fold in apples and nuts.
  4. Divide into pans and bake 25–30 minutes.
  5. Frost with cream cheese frosting.

6. Apple Toffee Caramel Cake Recipe

Apple toffee caramel cake combines diced apples with chewy toffee bits and a caramel glaze for a decadent finish.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 1 ½ cups sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 2 cups diced apples
  • 1 cup toffee bits
  • ½ cup caramel sauce

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a bundt pan.
  2. Beat butter and sugar until fluffy, add eggs, then sour cream.
  3. Stir in dry ingredients, fold in apples and toffee.
  4. Bake 45–50 minutes. Cool and drizzle with caramel sauce.

7. Apple Crumb Cake with Cinnamon Apple Drizzle Recipe

Apple crumb cake pairs a soft apple base with a buttery crumb topping and cinnamon drizzle for a coffee shop-style dessert.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • ½ tsp nutmeg
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ cup butter, softened
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 2 cups diced apples

Topping:

  • ½ cup flour
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • ¼ cup butter, cubed

Drizzle:

  • ½ cup powdered sugar
  • 2 tbsp milk
  • 1 tsp cinnamon

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9-inch square pan.
  2. Beat butter, sugar, and eggs until smooth. Stir in sour cream.
  3. Mix in dry ingredients and fold in apples. Pour into pan.
  4. Mix topping and sprinkle over batter. Bake 35–40 minutes.
  5. Whisk drizzle ingredients and pour over cooled cake.