Spiced Caramel Apple Cake

I don't want to spend much time writing a post on this recipe and keep you away from the utter goodness of this cake. Just follow the three steps first:

Step 1: See picture below.

Step 2: Drool.

Step 3: Make the cake already! Its very easy to prepare and your house will smell divine when it's baking. I wish it was possible to bottle up the aroma to fight dreary days. But, that's another story.

This recipe will serve 4.

Ingredients

For caramel sauce:

Butter, at room temperature - 1/4 cup

Brown Sugar - 1/2 cup

For the cake:

Granny Smith or Golden Delicious Apples - 2 

Butter, at room temperature - 1/4 cup

All Purpose Flour - 1 and 1/3 cups

Baking Powder - 1 teaspoon

Salt - 1/4 teaspoon

Pure Vanilla Extract - 1 teaspoon

Lemon Extract - 1/2 teaspoon

Granulated Sugar - 1 cup

Nutmeg - 1/2 teaspoon

Cinnamon - 1 teaspoon

Eggs, at room temperature - 2 small, or one large

Milk - 1/2 cup

Procedure

1) Start preheating the oven at 325 F.

2) Let's prepare the caramel sauce. In a microwave safe bowl, melt the butter until softened and just starting to melt.

3) Add brown sugar and mix until no lumps remain.

4) Place parchment paper at the bottom and around the edges of a regular cake pan (or if not using, grease the pan).

5) Spread the butter and sugar mixture evenly on the bottom of the pan.

6) Core the apples and slice them thinly. Place the apples in the cake pan over the sugar and butter mixture. Overlap them in layers, if required, to completely cover the base of the pan.

7) In a separate bowl, mix the dry ingredients : flour, baking powder, salt, nutmeg, cinnamon.

8) In a mixing bowl, add butter and sugar. Beat until creamy. Add vanilla and lemon extracts, and eggs and beat for a minute or two.

9) Add 1/3 of the dry ingredients mixture and mix gently with a spatula until no lumps remain. Do not overbeat!

10) Add half of the milk (1/4 cup) and mix until incorporated.

11) Add another 1/3rd of the dry ingredients mixture and mix. Add milk and mix again.

12) Add the remaining flour mixture and mix gently to combine.

13) Pour the batter over the apples in the cake pan and spread it out evenly.

14) Bake on the top rack of the oven for about 60 minutes (check once after 50 minutes to see if it's done. A toothpick inserted at the center of the cake should come out clean).

15) Remove the cake and place on cooling rack for 10 minutes. 

16) Place a plate on the cake pan and invert it to bring the apples and caramel layer on the top. Beautiful, isn't it?

17) This cake is best enjoyed warm and freshly baked, so add some whipped cream or vanilla ice cream and dig right in :)

As you see in the pictures, I added some sliced apples on the side for an additional crunch. This cake is not too sweet with just the right balance of the flavors coming from the caramel, cinnamon, and nutmeg. It will go equally well with a cup of coffee or with ice cream as a dessert! I'm sure there won't be any leftovers for this one, but if there are, the cake will freeze well too (i.e., for dreary days).