I pull out a skillet, melt butter with brown sugar, and watch it turn glossy. Sliced apples rest on top and the kitchen smells like a fairground. I think about a cheese cake recipe I once made for my sister, and how she said this apple cake tasted even warmer and cozier. We start with a soft vanilla batter and let it cradle the fruit. Each bite lands sweet then mellow. If you love apple desserts or chase the idea of a caramel apple dump cake, this one plays nice. Friends ask for the method and I smile because it is simple and steady. For folks who enjoy 6 inch cheesecake recipe notes or collect cake baking recipes, this cake slides right into your list. It works on a weeknight and it works for a quiet weekend. I have even tried a cake mix dump cake when time ran tight, yet I still come back to this pan because it turns out tender. When you crave the best apple recipes, this is the kind that makes the table go quiet for a second before the chatter starts again.
Table of Contents
- 1) Key Takeaways
- 2) Easy Apple Upside Down Cake Recipe
- 3) Ingredients for Apple Upside Down Cake
- 4) How to Make Apple Upside Down Cake
- 5) Tips for Making Apple Upside Down Cake
- 6) Making Apple Upside Down Cake Ahead of Time
- 7) Storing Leftover Apple Upside Down Cake
- 8) Try these desserts next
- 9) Apple Upside Down Cake
- 10) Nutrition
1) Key Takeaways
- Caramel kissed apples sit under a tender vanilla cake
- One pan method keeps cleanup simple and fast
- Great warm with ice cream or cool with coffee
- Recipe by Lila on Lila Cooks
2) Easy Apple Upside Down Cake Recipe
I reach for my skillet and I think cheese cake recipe as a mood and not a rule. I say it again for good luck cheese cake recipe, because comfort lives in creamy crumbs and in apples that turn glossy in butter and sugar. The cake comes out soft and the fruit tastes bright. We set the plate down and the room grows quiet in that happy way.
We bake with calm steps. Melt the sugar, fan the slices, spread a light batter. I learned this on a rainy afternoon when the oven warmed the whole place. My little test for doneness uses a gentle press near the center. It springs back and I grin. If you love apple cake or chase an upside down cake from childhood, this brings that feeling back without fuss.
Friends tease me that I always mention caramel apples when I serve it. Guilty. The top shines and the edges taste toasty. On Lila Cooks I keep notes simple, and I keep timing steady so a busy cook can win the day. Think of it like a cousin to a cake mix dump cake in spirit, yet you get better texture and a clean slice.
3) Ingredients for Apple Upside Down Cake
Apples I like firm fruit such as Honeycrisp or Granny Smith. The slices hold shape and stay juicy. Thin slices cook through and nest well in the pan.
Butter Unsalted gives control. It melts with brown sugar and turns syrupy. That syrup becomes the glaze after you flip.
Brown sugar Packed cups bring a mellow taste. The color deepens fast and the kitchen smells like a fairground stand.
Cinnamon and salt A light shake wakes the fruit. Salt pulls the sweet into balance so each bite lands true.
All purpose flour Sift if you see clumps. This gives the crumb a soft bite that pairs well with tender apples.
Baking powder Fresh leavener keeps the rise even. I swap the tin each season so the lift stays reliable.
Granulated sugar This sweetens the batter without weighing it down. The crumb stays light.
Eggs Room temp eggs blend smooth and hold air. The cake slices clean and stays soft the next day.
Milk A small splash loosens the batter. Whole milk brings a gentle richness that we like.
Vanilla A teaspoon rounds the edges. The scent meets the apples and feels like home.
4) How to Make Apple Upside Down Cake
Step one Heat the oven to three hundred fifty F. Set a nine inch oven safe skillet on medium heat. Melt butter and stir in brown sugar until glossy.
Step two Lay the apple slices over the syrup in a snug single layer. Sprinkle cinnamon and a pinch of salt. Let the pan sit off heat for a minute.
Step three Whisk flour with baking powder and salt in a bowl. In another bowl beat butter with granulated sugar until light. Mix in eggs one at a time then add vanilla.
Step four Add the dry mix in two parts, with milk in between. Stir just to combine. Spread the batter over the apples with a soft touch.
Step five Bake until a tester comes out clean and the top springs back. Rest the pan ten minutes. Invert onto a plate and lift the skillet with care.
5) Tips for Making Apple Upside Down Cake
Use apples that bite back a little. Soft fruit slumps and the top looks muddy. Firm fruit keeps shape and gives that pretty fan pattern we all love.
Keep the sugar mix just shy of a boil. You want gloss, not a hard candy snap. If it gets too thick, whisk in a spoon of milk and breathe. It will smooth out.
Grease the inner sides of the skillet. Syrup creeps up and tries to stick. A light coat saves the edges. For a creamy nod to a cheese cake recipe, add a spoon of sour cream to the batter for extra tenderness.
6) Making Apple Upside Down Cake Ahead of Time
I bake the cake in the evening and flip it once it cools a bit. The apple top sets and shines the next morning. The crumb stays soft and the slices travel well.
If you plan a party, make the cake one day early. Warm each slice in a low oven for a few minutes. The syrup loosens and the fruit wakes up again.
For fans of a silky cheese cake recipe texture, you can chill the cake and serve cool. The top feels plush and the flavor leans buttery.
7) Storing Leftover Apple Upside Down Cake
Cover the plate and leave it at room temp for the day. The top stays shiny and the crumb holds. This is my favorite window for snacking.
For longer storage, wrap slices and chill. A quick warm up in the oven brings back the soft texture. Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream if the day calls for it.
Freeze slices for a month if you need more time. Wrap well, tuck into a freezer safe bag, and label. Thaw in the fridge, then refresh in a low oven.
8) Try these desserts next
9) Apple Upside Down Cake
Apple Upside Down Cake Cheese Cake Recipe Lila Cooks
Ingredients
For the Topping
- 4 medium apples peeled cored and sliced
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Pinch of salt
For the Cake
- 1 and 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup milk room temperature
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice optional for brightness
Instructions
Make the Apple Topping
- Heat oven to 350 F.
- Place a 9 inch oven safe skillet on medium heat and melt the butter.
- Stir in brown sugar cinnamon and a pinch of salt until glossy and bubbling.
- Lay apple slices over the syrup in a snug single layer.
Make the Cake Batter
- Whisk flour baking powder and salt in a bowl.
- In a separate bowl beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
- Beat in eggs one at a time then mix in vanilla.
- Add dry ingredients in two additions alternating with milk starting and ending with dry, mix just to combine.
- Stir in lemon juice if using.
Bake and Unmold
- Spread batter evenly over the apples.
- Bake 35 to 45 minutes until the top springs back and a tester comes out clean.
- Cool 10 minutes on a rack.
- Run a thin knife around the edge, set a plate over the skillet, and invert with care.
- Lift the pan and let the syrup settle. Slice and serve warm or at room temp.
10) Nutrition
One slice offers about three hundred calories with a balance of carbs fat and a little protein. The numbers shift with the size of your slice and the apples you pick.
Serve with yogurt for a gentle breakfast or pair with coffee for a relaxed afternoon break. The cake tastes sweet yet not heavy, which helps it fit many moments.
On Lila Cooks I note that treats work best in a week of good meals. Share the plate. Smile. Save a small piece for later.
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