Spiced Apple Skillet Cake
Warm, buttery, and filled with cozy cinnamon spice, this rustic apple skillet cake is topped with beautifully layered apple slices that bake into a golden caramelized finish. With a soft, tender crumb and crisp sugary top, it's the perfect fall dessert or afternoon coffee cake straight from the skillet.
Prep time
20 min
Cook time
35–45 min
Serves
8–10
Ingredients
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Cake
- 1½ cupsall-purpose flour
- 1½ tspbaking powder
- ½ tspbaking soda
- ½ tspsalt
- 1 tspcinnamon
- ¼ tspnutmeg
- ½ cupbutter, softened
- ¾ cupbrown sugar
- 2eggs
- 1 tspvanilla extract
- ½ cupsour cream
- ¼ cupmilk
Apple Topping
- 2 mediumapples, thinly sliced (Honeycrisp, Ambrosia, or Granny Smith)
- 1 tbspmelted butter
- 1 tbspbrown sugar
- ½ tspcinnamon
Optional Cinnamon Sugar Topping
- 1 tbspcoarse sugar or brown sugar
- ¼ tspcinnamon
Ingredients
Cake
- 1½ cupsall-purpose flour
- 1½ tspbaking powder
- ½ tspbaking soda
- ½ tspsalt
- 1 tspcinnamon
- ¼ tspnutmeg
- ½ cupbutter, softened
- ¾ cupbrown sugar
- 2eggs
- 1 tspvanilla extract
- ½ cupsour cream
- ¼ cupmilk
Apple Topping
- 2 mediumapples, thinly sliced (Honeycrisp, Ambrosia, or Granny Smith)
- 1 tbspmelted butter
- 1 tbspbrown sugar
- ½ tspcinnamon
Optional Cinnamon Sugar Topping
- 1 tbspcoarse sugar or brown sugar
- ¼ tspcinnamon
Instructions
- 1
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 10-inch cast iron skillet or oven-safe skillet.
- 2
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- 3
In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
- 4
Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
- 5
Mix in the sour cream until smooth.
- 6
Gradually add the dry ingredients, alternating with the milk, mixing until just combined. Do not overmix.
- 7
Spread the batter evenly into the prepared skillet.
- 8
Arrange the apple slices decoratively over the top of the batter, slightly overlapping them in circles or rows.
- 9
Brush the apples lightly with melted butter, then sprinkle with the brown sugar and cinnamon mixture.
- 10
If desired, sprinkle the optional cinnamon sugar topping over the entire cake for a crisp bakery-style finish.
- 11
Bake for 35–45 minutes, or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- 12
Allow cake to cool for 10–15 minutes before serving.
Melissa's Notes
Thin apple slices create the prettiest layered top and soften beautifully while baking. For extra flavour, use a combination of sweet and tart apples. The coarse sugar topping gives the cake a delicate crunch and bakery-style appearance. Serve warm with whipped cream, vanilla ice cream, or a drizzle of caramel sauce. This cake is especially cozy with coffee or chai tea on cool fall days.
Nutrition Information
Per serving — based on 10 servings
Nutrition information is an estimate and may vary depending on the ingredients and brands used.
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