This apple upside down cake features an incredibly moist cake that is loaded with cinnamon and nutmeg, topped with a caramelized apple topping. This cake is simply irresistible.
To make the topping for the cake, you will start by melting the butter. We prefer melting the butter in the microwave, but you can melt it on the stovetop as well.
Next, pour the batter into your baking pan, we used a 9-inch baking pan for this cake.
Sprinkle the brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg on top of the batter and smooth it out with a spoon as much as you can to make an even layer.
The next step is to peel, core, and slice the apples into thin slices. We like to use granny smith apples for this recipe, but any kind of your favorite apples will work.
Arrange the apple slices on top of the butter mixture. Set the pan aside and make the cake batter.
Spiced vanilla cake:
Start by mixing your dry ingredients in a medium-sized bowl, add the flour, baking powder, and baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt, and mix well with a whisk.
For the wet ingredients, start by placing the butter and sugar in a big mixing bowl and whisk with an electric hand mixer or a stand mixer for about 3 minutes or until the butter and sugar are combined and are creamy.
The next step is adding the eggs one at a time, and the vanilla extract, mixing consistently.
The last step in making the cake is adding ½ of the dry ingredient mixture, and adding the milk, mixing until just combined, and adding the rest of the dry mixture.
It is important that you don’t overmix the batter, so you won’t develop the gluten in the flour. This step is important and prevents a dry and dense cake.
Pour the cake batter into the pan and bake in a 180c (350f) preheated oven for 40 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
Let the cake cool for 5 minutes, then carefully flip it on a leveled surface. Eat the cake hot or at room temperature.
Notes
Don’t overmix the batter! This step is crucial, you don’t want to develop the gluten in the flour. This step is important and prevents a dry and dense cake.
Use your favorite kind of apples! We like using granny smith apples, but any apple kind will work.
Use room temperature ingredients. It is important that you use room-temperature ingredients like eggs and butter. This step ensures that your mixture mixes into a homogenous mixture and bakes perfectly. you don’t want to place cold batter into the oven.
If you don’t want to use a cake pan, you can use a pie dish for this recipe, make sure that it's deep enough.
Measure your flour correctly! When measuring your flour, avoid scooping it with a measuring cup. Instead, stir the flour with a spoon to create as many air pockets as possible, and spoon it into your measuring cup. Finally, level it with a back of a knife.
Line your baking pan with parchment paper! This step helps the cake to bake evenly, and it makes sure that your loaf cake will release easily from the pan.
Be patient! I know it’s extremely tempting to frost this cake as it is pulled out of the oven, but let the cake cool for at least 1 hour so it will be more firm and won’t crumble up.