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Imagine a dessert that brings a perfect combination of apple pie with the comforting texture of moist cake. Each bite is a symphony of nutmeg and cinnamon that perfectly complements the sweetness of juicy apples. The layered apple pie cake may take time and effort, but the results are worth it! One of the best treats to show your culinary dedication and love for your family. To learn how to make this apple pie cake that leaves a long-lasting impression on your palate.
Ingredients For Apple Pie Cake
For The Apple Spice Cake
- Unsalted butter
- Dark brown sugar
- Eggs
- Vanilla extract
- Grated apples
- Whole milk
- All-purpose flour
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
For The Apple Pie Filling
- Apples
- Dark brown sugar
- Unsalted butter
- Vanilla extract
- Cornstarch
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
For The Frosting
- Unsalted butter
- Icing sugar
- Vanilla extract
- Cinnamon
- Full-fat cream cheese
Ingredient Notes and Variations
Unsalted butter: You can use salted butter. But decrease the salt quantity in the recipe to balance the flavors.
Dark brown sugar: Light brown sugar can also be used. But the dark brown sugar brings caramelized flavors to the cake.
Apples: Use quality apples to get well-balanced flavors. Granny Smith or Honeycrisp are the best options. But you can also use other variations.
Whole milk: Whole milk is good, but if you want more decadent flavors, use buttermilk as an alternative.
All-purpose flour: Usually, all-purpose flour is used to make cakes. But you can consider whole wheat or gluten-free flour blend for an innovative texture and nuttiness.
Cinnamon and Nutmeg: These spices take your cake to the next level. Use them balanced to bring aroma and warmth to your cake and pie. You can also add cloves for an extra layer of warmth and complexity.
Cornstarch: It helps to thicken the filling. You can use tapioca starch or arrowroot powder as an alternative to cornstarch.
Full-fat cream cheese: You can use other lighter versions of cream cheese for frosting. Add a dash of vanilla extract to enhance the flavor of cream cheese.
How To Make Layered Apple Pie Cake?
1: Prepare apple spice cake
Preheat the oven and keep the temperature to 325°F.
Add brown sugar and unsalted butter in a bowl of a stand mixer. Beat them well.
Now add one egg and vanilla extract. Mix until fluffy and pale. Add whole milk and grated apples and beat. Sift the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and baking powder in a separate bowl.
Add this mixture gradually in the stand mixer. Set the mixer at a low speed. Divide the batter equally in two 8-inch cake pan.
Bake each layer for up to 15 to 20 minutes. Insert a toothpick into the cake. If it remains clean, they are ready. Let them cool before frosting and assembling.
2: Prepare apple pie filling
Take a pan and add apples, butter, brown sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla extract.
Let it cook on medium heat until the apples become tender and gooey. Once the filling thickens, turn off the flame and let it cool.
3: Prepare frosting
Add butter, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and icing sugar in a stand mixer bowl.
Whip it until light and airy. It may take 8 to 10 minutes. Bring the mixer to medium speed and add cream cheese gradually. Beat it for 30 seconds.
4: Assemble the cake
Take a cake layer we prepare and top it with a substantial quantity of cream cheese. Repeat the process layer after layer until you reach the final layer.
Create a thick border of frosting to make edges. Frost the outside of the cake. That’s it! You can drizzle caramel to decorate your cake.
Layered Apple Pie Cake
Ingredients
For The Apple Spice Cake
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 1 teaspoon salt
- One teaspoon of ground cinnamon
- 1 ½ cups dark brown sugar
- 3 eggs
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ cup grated apples packed
- 1 cup whole milk
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
For The Apple Pie Filling
- 3-4 medium apples peeled & thinly sliced
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ½ cup dark brown sugar
- ½ tablespoon cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- Dash of ground nutmeg
For The Frosting
- 1 pound unsalted butter room temperature
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 4 cups icing sugar or to taste
- 8 ounces of full-fat cream cheese
- Salted caramel optional
Instructions
- Combine butter and sugar and mix thoroughly.
- Add eggs one by one and beat them until they get fluffy. Also, add vanilla extract.
- Add whole milk and grated apples and beat.
- Shift baking powder, nutmeg, flour, salt, and cinnamon in another bowl.
- Add this dry mixture to the wet mixture gradually and beat very well to smoothen the mixture.
- Transfer to the eight-inch cake tin and bake in a preheated oven for 20 minutes.
- Insert toothpick. When it remains clean, the cake is ready.
- Add some apples to a pan and cook until soft; let them cool before using.
- Beat icing sugar, butter, cinnamon, and vanilla until fluffy.
- Mix cream cheese gradually and beat.
- Once your frosting is ready, fill it between the cake layers and frost the cake from outside.
- Drizzle caramel if you want.
