Swedish Apple Cake with Caramel is a delightful dessert that features a moist apple cake topped with a rich caramel sauce. The cake is typically made with fresh apples, which add natural sweetness and moisture, and is flavored with spices like cinnamon.
Key Components:
- Apple Cake: The base is usually a simple batter made from flour, sugar, eggs, and butter, mixed with diced apples and spices.
- Caramel Sauce: This is often made by melting sugar and butter together until it becomes a golden syrup, then adding cream for a smooth texture.
Serving:
The cake is often served warm, drizzled with caramel sauce, and can be accompanied by whipped cream or vanilla ice cream for added indulgence. It’s a perfect dessert for fall or any time you want a comforting treat!
Ingredients:
For the Cake:
½ cup butter, room temperature
1 ⅔ cups sugar
2 eggs
1 ½ teaspoons vanilla
1 ½ cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon
½ teaspoon nutmeg
3 cups diced & peeled apples (about 2 large apples)
Optional: ¼ cup chopped pecans or walnuts
For the Caramel:
1 ⅓ cups brown sugar 🍯
2 tablespoons half & half 🥛
4 tablespoons butter 🧈
Preparation:
1️⃣ Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9-inch springform pan.
2️⃣ In a small bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
3️⃣ In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar until smooth. Add eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla.
4️⃣ Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until just combined, then fold in the diced apples and nuts (if using).
5️⃣ Transfer the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
6️⃣ Make the Caramel: While the cake is baking, combine the brown sugar, half & half, and butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir frequently until smooth and combined (no need to bring to a boil).
7️⃣ Remove the cake from the oven and pour the caramel sauce over the top. Return the cake to the oven for another 10-15 minutes, or until the caramel is slightly cracked and the cake is fully cooked through.
8️⃣ Let the cake cool for at least 15 minutes before slicing and serving.
You can definitely use different types of fruit in place of apples! Some great alternatives include:
- Pears: They have a similar texture and sweetness to apples.
- Peaches: Fresh or canned peaches can add a lovely flavor.
- Berries: Blueberries, raspberries, or strawberries can work well, but you may want to reduce the sugar slightly since they can be sweeter.
- Plums: Chopped plums can add a nice tartness to the cake.
Feel free to experiment with your favorite fruits to create your own twist on the recipe!
Enjoy this delicious, moist Swedish Apple Cake with rich caramel on top!