Apple Upside Down Cake Recipe

This apple upside down cake recipe is an easy dessert for fall! Perfect for parties and gatherings, this fall apple cake is a dessert showstopper!

Picture this. It’s fall. Apples are in season. You think it will be a fun family activity to go apple picking! If you live in the Northeast, this is a THING. People go apple picking, every fall. And it’s exactly like it sounds. You go to an orchard, pick apples off a tree (usually they are swarming with bees). It’s typically 80 degrees, but everyone wants to wear sweaters and scarves and boots. You sweat through the day, wishing for shade, pick more apples than you’ll ever eat and then end up paying $80 for them.

In short, apple picking is usually a let down. So instead of apple picking, just pick up 1 single granny smith apple from the grocery store or farmer’s market and make this apple upside down cake recipe at home!

I first made this cake many years ago and it instantly became a staple. I’ve adapted it over time and I’m left with just a stunning apple upside down cake. Who said pineapple is the only fruit to get the upside down treatment? I love pineapple upside down cake in summer, but I’m making a case for a fall version featuring apples and cinnamon and all the warm flavors of the season.

This cake is so so good. Is it too bold to say that it's one of my favorite recipes ever?

Because it really is. Not only for the taste, but for how easy this cake was. It came together in a snap. Glorious, sugar-coated apples atop a moist, cinnamony cake and doused with a healthy helping of powdered sugar for good measure...there's not much better in life than that my friends.

Yield: 6-8

Author: Rachel Humiston

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Apple Upside Down Cake

This apple upside down cake recipe is a delicious and easy fall dessert! Perfect for parties and gatherings, this fall apple cake is a dessert showstopper!

Ingredients

• 1 large granny smith apple
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 2 Tbsp brown sugar
• 1 C self-rising flour
• 1 C granulated sugar
• 5 Tbsp unsalted butter, softened, divided
• 4 Tbsp canola oil
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ tsp ground cinnamon
• Confectioners’ sugar (for dusting)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Peel the apple and remove the core; but keep apple in tact*
3. Slice the apple into thin rings and place in a mixing bowl.
4. Gently toss the apple rings with lemon juice and set aside.
5. Using 1 Tbsp of butter, grease a 9-inch round baking pan with butter and set aside.
6. In a stand mixer (or with a hand mixer), cream together the remaining 4 Tbsp butter, granulated sugar and oil.
7. Mix in the vanilla and eggs until completely combined.
8. Gently stir in the flour and cinnamon until just combined.
9. Lay the apple rings on the bottom of the baking pan. Top with brown sugar.
10. Pour cake batter over the apples and smooth with a rubber spatula.
11. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.
12. Let cool for 10 minutes, then run a knife around the edges of the pan and flip out onto a wire rack or cutting board to continue cooling. Replace any apples that may have stuck to the pan.
13. Dust with confectioners sugar before serving.

What do you think? Do you go apple picking? What do you do with all of those apples?