Apple Cake with Toffee Sauce

This apple cake with toffee sauce takes everything you love about sticky toffee pudding and gives it a fresh seasonal twist. Tender chunks of apple are folded into a warmly spiced batter, then the whole cake gets soaked in a rich, buttery toffee sauce. The oil in the batter keeps the cake remarkably moist, so it stays tender even after a couple days.

Why You’ll Love This Apple Cake with Toffee Sauce

• Bold spiced flavor with real apple chunks. Every bite has tender apple pieces and a warm blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and allspice.
• Homemade toffee sauce that seeps into the cake. Poking holes lets the sauce soak in, making every square gooey and rich.
• No stand mixer needed. Everything comes together with a whisk and spatula, and the toffee sauce simmers in one saucepan in under 10 minutes.

Key Ingredients for the Best Apple Cake

• Apples. Use a mix of tart and sweet varieties like Granny Smith and Honeycrisp. They hold their shape during baking and give a nice contrast to the sweet toffee. Chop them into 1/2-inch chunks for even distribution.
• Dark brown sugar. The higher molasses content gives a deeper caramel flavor that pairs perfectly with the toffee sauce. It also adds moisture to the cake.
• Oil. Avocado, canola, or vegetable oil keeps the cake incredibly moist without adding a heavy flavor. That's why this cake stays soft for days.

Kitchen Tools for This Apple Cake Recipe

• A 9x13-inch metal baking pan for even baking
• A medium saucepan for the toffee sauce
• A whisk and rubber spatula for mixing
• A toothpick or skewer for poking holes

Tips for Making the Best Moist Apple Cake

Use room-temperature eggs so they emulsify smoothly into the batter. Cold eggs can cause the oil to separate. When you fold in the apples, do it gently to avoid crushing them, you want distinct chunks in every bite.

For the toffee sauce, let it cool 10 minutes after cooking. It will thicken as it sits. If you pour it too hot, it will run off the cake instead of soaking in. Poking holes with a skewer or toothpick before pouring helps the sauce seep deep into the cake.

Easy Variations for This Apple Cake Recipe

Swap the apple mix: Fuji or Braeburn work great, or try all Granny Smith for a tarter bite. Add 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts or pecans along with the apples for extra texture. To make it gluten-free, use a 1-to-1 gluten-free flour blend, just spoon and level it carefully.

Toppings and Pairings for This Spiced Apple Cake

Warm slices with a scoop of vanilla ice cream are classic, but whipped cream works too. For a little crunch, sprinkle toasted pecans or a pinch of flaky sea salt on top. This cake also pairs well with a cup of hot coffee or spiced chai.

How to Store Leftover Apple Cake

Cover the cake tightly and keep it at room temperature for up to 2 days. For longer storage, refrigerate it for up to 5 days. This cake tastes great warm, at room temperature, or even straight from the fridge. I do not recommend freezing this cake, as the texture changes.

Recipe

Apple Cake with Toffee Sauce

★★★★★ ★★★★★ 5/5 (3 ratings)

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Prep

15 min

Cook

45 min

Total

1 h

Servings

16 servings

Cuisine

American

Course

Dessert

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, (spooned & leveled)
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, (divided)
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1 cup avocado oil, canola, or vegetable oil
• 3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 4 large eggs, (at room temperature)
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 3 cups peeled chopped apples, (1/2-inch chunks, about 2 to 3 large apples)
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1/2 cup salted butter, (cut into tablespoon pieces)
• 3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9x13-inch pan with cooking spray and set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and allspice. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, whisk together the oil, brown sugar, sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract.
4. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir with a spatula until just combined.
5. In a small bowl, combine the apple chunks, lemon juice, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon. Stir until apples are well coated.
6. Gently fold in the apples into the cake batter.
7. Pour the cake batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly with a spatula. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean and the cake is golden brown. Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool in the pan while you make the toffee sauce.
8. In a medium

Nutrition (per serving, estimated)

Calories

420 kcal21% DV

Protein

5 g10% DV

Fat

22 g28% DV

Carbs

52 g19% DV

Fiber

2 g7% DV

Sodium

350 mg15% DV

% Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet (FDA). Values are estimates — see our nutrition data sources.

complete the meal

Pairs Well With

DrinksCreamy Tropical Fruit Slushies BakingGingerbread Bundt Cake DessertsCinnamon Streusel Baked Apples