Apple Pecan Cake Caramel Glaze (Printable Version)

Moist cake bursting with apple chunks and pecans, topped with a decadent homemade caramel glaze that adds the perfect finishing touch.

# What You'll Need:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 teaspoon baking powder
03 - 1 teaspoon baking soda
04 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
05 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

→ Wet Ingredients

06 - 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
07 - 1 cup granulated sugar
08 - 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
09 - 3 large eggs
10 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
11 - 1 cup buttermilk

→ Fruits and Nuts

12 - 2 cups peeled and diced apples (e.g., Granny Smith)
13 - 1 cup chopped pecans

→ Caramel Glaze

14 - 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
15 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter
16 - 1/4 cup heavy cream
17 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

# Steps to Follow:

01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9x13-inch baking pan.
02 - In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Set aside.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
04 - Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract.
05 - Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, alternating with the buttermilk, and mix until just combined.
06 - Fold in the diced apples and chopped pecans.
07 - Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and smooth the top.
08 - Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
09 - While the cake is baking, prepare the caramel glaze: In a saucepan, combine the brown sugar, butter, and heavy cream. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring constantly until smooth. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
10 - Once the cake is done, let it cool for 10 minutes before drizzling the caramel glaze over the warm cake.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • Ready in just over an hour with mostly pantry staples
  • The perfect balance of moist cake interior with caramel-glazed exterior
  • Makes your kitchen smell absolutely heavenly while baking
  • Can be prepared a day ahead for stress-free entertaining
02 -
  • The cake stays moist for up to 4 days when properly stored
  • Each serving provides antioxidants from the apples and healthy fats from the pecans
  • The caramel glaze creates a self frosting cake that needs no additional toppings

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