Description
Moist, warmly spiced, and studded with apples and pecans, this Apple Pecan Cake with Caramel Glaze is pure comfort in every bite. Finished with a rich, buttery glaze, it’s a crowd-pleasing dessert perfect for holidays and cozy gatherings.
Ingredients
- All-Purpose Flour: 2 cups – forms the structure of the cake
- Granulated Sugar: 2 cups – sweetens and helps with browning
- Baking Soda: 1 teaspoon – provides lift and light texture
- Ground Cinnamon: 2 teaspoons – adds warm, spicy depth
- Salt: ½ teaspoon – balances the sweetness
- Eggs: 2 large – bind everything together
- Vegetable Oil: 1 cup – keeps the cake moist
- Vanilla Extract: 2 teaspoons – enhances the overall flavor
- Apples (peeled and chopped): 3 cups – adds moisture and texture
- Chopped Pecans: 1 cup – gives nutty crunch
- Unsalted Butter (for glaze): ½ cup (1 stick) – base of the glaze
- Brown Sugar (for glaze): 1 cup – creates deep, rich sweetness
- Heavy Cream (for glaze): ¼ cup – adds silky smoothness
- Vanilla Extract (for glaze): 1 teaspoon – rounds out the caramel flavor
Instructions
- Preheat Your Equipment: Set your oven to 325°F (165°C). Grease and flour a Bundt pan or a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Combine Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk flour, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. In another bowl, mix eggs, oil, and vanilla. Add wet to dry and stir until just combined.
- Prepare Your Cooking Vessel: Fold in chopped apples and pecans. Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
- Assemble the Dish: Smooth the top with a spatula. Tap gently to remove air bubbles.
- Cook to Perfection: Bake for 55–60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Let cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then transfer to a rack.
- Finishing Touches: While the cake cools, make the caramel glaze. In a saucepan, melt butter, stir in brown sugar and cream. Simmer for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.
- Serve and Enjoy: Pour warm glaze over warm cake. Let set slightly, slice, and enjoy.
Notes
- Use tart apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp.
- Toast pecans for extra depth of flavor.
- Do not overmix the batter.
- Let cake rest before slicing to preserve moisture.