Spiced Apple Upside-Down Cake

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-26 · Updated 2026-05-26

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

Warm and fragrant upside-down cake with caramelized cinnamon apples baked atop a moist vanilla cake base, ideal for cozy gatherings. This American-inspired recipe, ready in about 70 minutes, layers unsalted butter, light brown sugar, large apples into a dessert worth slowing down for — great for weekend baking, holiday tables, or any time you want a sweet payoff at the end of a meal. Each serving lands at about 370 calories and feeds 8, so it slots into a weekend bake or a special-occasion dessert tray. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 20 min Cook: 50 min Serves 8 American cuisine 370 cal/serving

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Ingredients

6 tbsp, divided unsalted butter
1 cup, divided light brown sugar
3 medium, peeled, cored, and sliced large apples
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup whole milk

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Instructions

Step 1: Preheat oven to 350°F. In a 9-inch round cake pan, melt 4 tbsp unsalted butter over low heat. Stir in 1/2 cup light brown sugar until it dissolves and bubbles. Arrange 3 medium peeled, cored, and sliced apples evenly over the caramel.
Step 2: Sprinkle 2 tsp ground cinnamon and 1/2 cup light brown sugar evenly over the apples.
Step 3: In a bowl, whisk together 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 1/2 tsp baking powder, and 1/4 tsp salt.
Step 4: In a separate large bowl, beat 3/4 cup granulated sugar with 2 large eggs and 1 tsp vanilla extract until thick and pale, about 3 minutes.
Step 5: Alternate adding the flour mixture and 1/2 cup whole milk to the egg mixture, starting and ending with flour, mixing gently until just combined.
Step 6: Pour the batter evenly over the apples in the cake pan, smoothing the top.
Step 7: Bake for 45-50 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean and the cake springs back when touched.
Step 8: Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then run a knife around the edges and invert it onto a serving plate so the caramelized apples are on top. Serve warm or at room temperature.