Fall baking is perhaps my favorite baking of the year. I could get lost in a magical world of cinnamon, baked apples and cooling pie crust. Fall is my season.
Unlike the other seasons, which all have their perks, the smells and tastes of this season give me comfort like no other. They make me nostalgic for some dreamy idea that I have in my mind’s eye and seem to make that dream come true with each bite.
Dessert magic
This Apple Upside Down Cake is one of those desserts that combines the magic of the season for me. While it bakes you can smell the apples and cinnamon caramelizing and as they do they sort of melt into the cake that’s soft and full of flavor from vanilla, nutmeg and of course, more cinnamon.
With each bit my Apple Upside Down Cake will give you comfort and warmth. I like to top it off with some homemade whipped cream or vanilla ice cream to round in all out with some creamy goodness. But you can surely eat it without that too. The only companion that’s truly necessary is a fork. 🙂
Fall and beyond
Oh and don’t let the fact that I’m categorizing it as a fall dessert bother you. Apples are in season now, and I literally live off a street named Fruit Ridge that celebrates our area’s small farmers. But, the flavors in my Apple Upside Down Cake are perfect to take you into the winter season too.
Since apples are one of the fruits most people can find year-round, this dessert is perfect for the holidays. This includes cold, dark Januarys too. Might as well bring some of that fall magic with you into the starkness that can be January – especially in Michigan.
Apple Upside Down Cake
Ingredients
Cake Ingredients
- 1.75 cups flour
- 1.5 cups sugar
- 1.5 tsp. baking powder
- 1 Tbsp. cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp. nutmeg
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 3 eggs
- 1 stick of butter, salted and room temp If the butter isn't soft enough you can melt it in the microwave for 15 seconds. Just make sure it isn't hot.
- 3/4 Tbsp. vanilla extract
Apple topping ingredients
- 5-6 apples, peeled and chopped into about 1/2 inch cubes
- 1/2 stick butter, salted
- 3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1 Tbsp. maple syrup
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp. nutmeg
- Optional: Lemon and water bath to keep the apples from browning.
Homemade Whipped Cream
- 2 cups of heavy cream, cold
- 3/4 cups of powdered sugar
- 1/2 Tbsp. of vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350.
- Mix together all your dry cake ingredients and mix well.
- Add your milk, eggs, sour cream, butter and vanilla. Mix with a hand mixer on medium. Set aside.
- Peel and chop 5-6 apples into 1/2-inch pieces.
- In a saucepan over medium heat, add butter for apple topping, brown sugar and maple syrup. Combine well.
- Add in chopped apples (if you added them to the water bath, make sure they are well drained), cinnamon and nutmeg. Bring to a boil and then simmer for about 10 minutes.
- Grease a 9-inch round cake pan with butter. I've found that butter works the best for this.
- Add your apple mixture to the pan and make sure the apples cover the bottom of the pan and that they're relatively even.
- Add the cake mixture slowly on top of this. Make sure that the cake mixture is even.
- Add to the oven for 50 minutes. You can check with a toothpick when the time is up. If you think it needs more time you can give it another 5 minutes.
- Remove from oven and let cool completely. You can see in the video I didn't let it cool for time's sake but if you have the time, do it.
- Once cooled, take a knife and go around the cake to make sure the sides aren't sticking. This is very important.
- Then, add a plate or cake stand to the top of the pan and flip it over.
- Carefully remove the pan to reveal the cake.
- For the homemade whipped cream, add all your ingredients together and use a hand mixed to blend them for about 10 minutes. You can also heat up the cake and top it off with ice cream!
- Feel free to sprinkle a little more cinnamon on top of that. 🙂
For more recipes from Sugar Maple Farmhouse, click here.
Ok, I’ve heard of a pineapple upside down cake, but never an apple one! I think this looks so delicious and can’t wait to make one!
This cake looks so yummy. It would be perfect to make for my family this fall. I know they would love it.
I need this in my life. I tend to love apple desserts, and this looks amazing.
I’ve been looking for some easy recipes to celebrate Thanksgiving! This is really unique and looks so tasty, too.
We always pick fresh apples from our friend’s orchard and I am always looking for new recipes to try. I can’t wait to wow my family with this one.
This looks soooo good! My family loves apple desserts, so I totally need to make this! I bet it would be amazing served warm with vanilla ice cream!
This is exactly the kind of thing I love to make when fall comes around. Everyone else is losing it over pumpkin spice, and I’m over here looking for another apple recipe.
This would be such a great treat right about now. The apple mixture looks so pretty on top!
That looks soooo good! I haven’t had a pie of pie or cake in months! I really want to try this recipe.
This recipe looks scrumptious! I love apple cakes and think this one looks fabulous!
Apples + Cinnamon = perfection! I’d love to try a slice of that upside down cake. I wonder if any restaurant or bakery offers that, I’d order it at once!
Those pictures are making me so hungry, that cake looks so good. I will try and make this the first chance I get.
I love everything apple in the fall, I have to give this recipe a try! It sounds like the perfect Sunday night dessert.
I’ve always wanted to make an upside down cake. This one sounds like something my family would love.
I have 4 bags of fresh harvested apples. There is no better flavor to pair with fall then apples. I absolutely love that you made an upside down apple cake! I will be making this soon.
This cake looks amazing. I have never tried it before. I love apple flavor, so I’m sure this is going to be great.
It is apple season. So that is the best reason to make this cake.
I love pineapple upside down cake so much so I’m sure I’d love this just as much, or more! Looks delicious and so creative!
I love apple desserts! And this cake looks and sounds so tasty! Must try it this weekend!
Yum! This Apple Upside Down Cake is mouthwatering! And I am definitely drooling right now. Looks really delicious. Can’t wait to take a bite,.
This is such an amazing fall treat! Can’t wait to give it a try!
Oooooh this looks so yummy! I would love to try making this with my kiddos some weekend soon! (We are overdue for a trip to our local orchard…)
This recipe looks amazing! The perfect fall apple treat to enjoy! YUM!! I need some of this right now!
I’ve never had apple upside down cake but I’ve had lots of apple desserts. This looks delicious though so I think I need to try it asap!
I bet not only this upside down cake looks and taste delicious. It smells so good too, this is the time of the year I love the smell of my Mom’s kitchen because she also likes to bake. I will share this recipe to my family and friends.
Oh my goodness. This cake looks so good. I’d love to have a slice now. 🙂
I love upside-down pineapple cake but never thought to try it with apples! That’s just genius. Can’t wait to give this a try.
My husband looks so delicious .It is so tempting.
This cake looks so yummy. I love the fall spices and apples, and it works just as well in this cake as in any pie.
We pick so many apples in the fall, and this would be the perfect way to use up some of them. Looks delicious!
This looks delicious! My mom loves anything with baked apples, so I’m going to make this for her before she goes south for the winter.
This looks delicious! I’ll have to save this recipe for Thanksgiving!
This looks like such a yummy recipe. I would love to try making this sometime. Thanks for sharing.
This sounds SO good! Way better than Pineapple Upsidedown cake!
OMG! This looks really delicious. I love apple pie and apple tart but I have never tried apple upside-down cake. So excited to try this. Thank you for sharing the recipe.
You’re right fall food is the best. And this upside down cake looks amazing
Just look at the pics alone, makes me want to grab it and eat it. Apple Upside Down Cake, very new to me.
looks delicious!
Oh! Very promising recipe. I would love to try it one day. Nice for holidays too!
I love apple desserts, so I’ll have to try this out. It looks so delicious and perfect for the fall.
I LOVE this Fall upgrade to an upside-down cake. The homemade whipped cream is the perfect topping.
Now I know what to make with all of our apples from apple picking!
That looks like the perfect fall treat! Can’t wait to give it a try!
I want this so badly right now! Love apple desserts! Trying this one soon!