| |

Spiced Apple Cake with Brown Sugar Frosting

ByJessica Loizzo Updated on

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our privacy policy.

Jump to Recipe

We’re obsessed with this warm spiced apple cake with brown sugar frosting! It’s the perfect way to celebrate apple season. It’s moist, tender and layered with cozy cinnamon and nutmeg. What sets it apart is the silkiest caramel-like brown sugar frosting. Whether you’re baking for a family gathering, potluck, or just because apple season is here, this recipe is a crowd-pleaser. Trust me! My family LOVED it. It’s also simple enough for weeknight baking, and it can be made ahead of time for stress-free entertaining. Get your apples ready!

spiced apple cake with creamy brown sugar frosting on a white plate, featuring a fresh apple and cinnamon tart in the background. Perfect for fall desserts and cake lovers.

Why You’ll Love This Apple Cake

  • It’s so moist – between the apples and sour cream, this spiced apple cake has the most tender crumb.
  • The spices are used just right so the apple flavor shines.
  • The brown sugar frosting adds so much depth and molasses notes. It pairs very well with the cinnamon and nutmeg.
  • Make-ahead friendly – stores really well and even freezes beautifully.
  • Perfect for the holidays – serve for Thanksgiving or Christmas!

Ingredients You’ll Need

Here are all the ingredients you’ll need to make this spiced apple cake with a few notes about each one.

Butter, sugar, eggs, flour, vanilla extract, baking powder, salt, brown sugar, cream cheese, apples, apple, green apple, salted butter, powdered sugar, brown sugar, maple syrup, vanilla extract, creamy frosting, baking ingredients, dessert baking, Stuck On Sweet, apple crumb dessert, baking supplies.

For the cake:

  • All purpose flour – provides structure for the cake.
  • Baking soda and baking powder – helps the cake rise.
  • Cinnamon and nutmeg – flavors the cake.
  • Salt – enhances flavor and balances sweetness.
  • Butter – adds richness and flavor.
  • Brown sugar and granulated sugar – sweetens the cake.
  • Eggs – binds the ingredients together.
  • Vanilla – adds warmth and flavor.
  • Sour cream – keeps the cake moist and indulgent. Can substitute Greek yogurt.
  • Grated apples – helps keeps the cake moist and adds flavor and texture. I use a mixture of Granny Smith and gala.

For the frosting:

  • Butter – add richness and helps the brown sugar caramelize.
  • Brown sugar – essential for the caramel flavor.
  • Whole milk – helps make the frosting spreadable.
  • Powdered sugar – gives structure to the frosting and sweetens it.
  • Vanilla – adds warmth and flavor.

Step-By-Step Instructions (with photos)

Cream-colored mixing bowl and small bowls with flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and vanilla extract on marble surface for baking.
Measure out the dry ingredients.
Powdered flour in glass bowl with whisk on marble surface, baking ingredients, cooking, kitchen, culinary preparation.
Mix the dry ingredients – flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon and nutmeg in a medium bowl; set aside.
Sweet ingredients in a glass mixing bowl for baking, with a red stand mixer on a white countertop.
Mix together butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar until fluffy.
Creamy cookie dough mixture in a stand mixer with eggs and butter, ready for baking or further dessert preparation. Perfect for cookies, cookie dough snacks, and sweet treats from Stuck On Sweet.
Add eggs and vanilla. Mix until smooth. Scrape down the sides of the bowl if necessary.
Cream cheese and cookie dough mixture in a glass mixing bowl under a red stand mixer, on a white marble countertop.
Mix in the sour cream until creamy.
Cream-colored cookie dough and flour with a red hand mixer on marble surface.
With mixer on low-speed, slowly add the bowl of dry ingredients just until combined.
Spiced apple cake in a glass mixing bowl with a wooden spoon, with shredded cheese in a paper towel-lined bowl, on a white marble surface.
Grate the apples over a paper towel.
grated apples in a glass mixing bowl, ready for baking or cooking.
stir the grated apples into the batter.
Creamy spiced apple cake being poured into a parchment-lined baking pan for homemade cookie bars at Stuck On Sweet. Perfect for cookie lovers and baking enthusiasts seeking delicious cookie bar recipes.
Pour the spiced apple cake batter into a prepared pan.
Delicious freshly baked apple cake in a baking dish on marble countertop.
Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes.
Butter with brown sugar and graham cracker crumbs in a small white saucepan on white marble background.
Prepare the frosting by melting brown sugar and butter in a sauce pan.
Sweet caramel sauce in a small saucepan on marble countertop with a wooden spoon inside.
Bring to a gentle boil and cook for 2 minutes. Add milk and bring back to a boil then remove from heat to cool for 5 minutes.
A person adding powdered sugar to caramel in a saucepan on a marble countertop.
Whisk in powdered sugar until smooth.
Brown sugar frosting poured over spiced apple cake in a ceramic pan.
Pour brown sugar frosting over the cake.
Creamy caramel fudge layered in a baking dish, ready to set.
Smooth and let set.

Tips for Success

  • Prepare all the ingredients ahead of time. This helps prevent mistakes and makes clean up easier. Also, prepare the pan by lining it with parchment paper.
  • Do not over-mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. Mix just until combined.
  • Grate the apples right before adding them into the cake batter. They will brown otherwise.
  • Test with a toothpick – look for moist crumbs, not wet batter. Mine baked for 35 minutes.
  • Wait to prepare the frosting until the cake has cooled for 5 minutes. The frosting sets quickly so you want to frost the cake right after the frosting is prepared.

Storage & Make-Ahead

  • Room temperature: Covered for up to 2 days.
  • Refrigerator: Covered for up to 5 days.
  • Freezer: Freeze unfrosted cake up to 2 months; thaw overnight before frosting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What apples are best for spiced apple cake?

A: Sweet-tart apples like honey crisp, gala, fuji or Granny Smith. I like to use a combo of Granny Smith and gala.

Q: Can I make spiced apple cake gluten free?

A: Yes! Substitute all purpose flour for a cup for cup gluten free flour.

Q: Can I make this cake ahead of time?

A: Yes! In fact, it tastes better the next day. Store covered. I love this cake pan with a lid.

Q: Can I freeze it with frosting?
A: It’s best to freeze unfrosted, but frosting holds okay for short term storage.

Q: Can I turn this into cupcakes?

A: Yes. Bake 18-20 minutes at 350 degrees F.

Fresh spiced apple cake square topped with creamy brown sugar frosting and dried apple slices, served on a white plate with a whole apple and apple chips in the background. Perfect for apple dessert lovers.

More Fall Recipes You’ll Love

  • Pumpkin Streusel Coffee Cake: a simple pumpkin cake that’s baked with a buttery streusel crumble then drizzled with a vanilla glaze.
  • Apple Dump cake: A semi-homemade recipe that’s easy to make. Dump all the ingredient into a pan and bake!
  • Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake Bars: Pumpkin and cheesecake are blended together into one smooth batter and baked over a homemade gingersnap crust.
  • Apple Slices: Such a delicious recipe. Sweetened spiced apples are baked between two pie crusts then drizzle with glaze. These are amazing!
Yield: 12-16 slices

Spiced Apple Cake with Brown Sugar Frosting

Fresh spiced apple cake square topped with creamy brown sugar frosting and dried apple slices, served on a white plate with a whole apple and apple chips in the background. Perfect for apple dessert lovers.

This Spiced Apple cake with Brown Sugar Frosting is packed with warm cinnamon and nutmeg. The cake is tender and extra moist thanks to fresh apples, and it's topped with a rich, caramel-like brown sugar frosting. Perfect for Fall gatherings!

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes

Ingredients

Spiced Apple Cake

  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 2 medium apples, peeled and grated (I used a granny smith and a gala)

Brown Sugar Frosting:

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter
  • 1 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1/3 cup whole milk
  • 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Instructions

Make the cake:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a baking pan or line with parchment paper; set aside.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg; set aside.
  3. In a stand-alone mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (hand-held mixer works too), beat butter with granulated sugar and brown sugar until light and fluffy. About 1-2 minutes at medium speed.
  4. Add eggs one at a time, then mix in vanilla extract. Batter should be creamy. Scrape down sides of the bowl as necessary.
  5. Mix in the sour cream on low speed just until combined, again scraping the sides of the bowl.
  6. With the mixer on low-speed, gradually add the bowl of dry ingredients and mix just until incorporated. Do not over-mix. The cake batter will be fluffy.
  7. Grate the apples onto a towel and gently pat them to remove excess moisture. Then fold them into the batter with a spatula.
  8. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly. Bake for 35-40 minutes. Mine baked for 35 minutes. Check by inserting a toothpick in the center of the cake. If it comes out clean, it's done. Set aside to cool.

Make the brown sugar frosting:

  1. While the cake cools, make the frosting. In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter and brown sugar. Bring to a gentle boil and cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
  2. Stir in milk and bring back to a boil. Remove from the heat and let cool for 5 minutes. It will still be warm after 5 minutes - that's okay! If it cools all the way, it will be too thick for the powdered sugar to be mixed in.
  3. Gradually whisk in sifted powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth and spreadable. If it's too thick, add a splash of milk.
  4. Immediately pour the frosting over the cake and spread evenly. Let the frosting set before slicing. Enjoy!

Notes

Cake should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Unfrosted cake can be frozen for up 2 months.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

12

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 507Total Fat: 20gSaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 84mgSodium: 232mgCarbohydrates: 79gFiber: 1gSugar: 61gProtein: 4g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated. Use as an approximation only.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

© Jess - stuckonsweet.com
Category: Cakes/Cupcakes

Craving More?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *