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    Apple Cake Traybake

    16/09/2013 by thebakingexplorer 14 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This Apple Cake Traybake is a simple sponge recipe with grated apple and spices to make it super moist and delicious. Traybake cakes are so easy to make and decorate, with no comprise on taste. I've paired the apple sponge with a sweet caramel buttercream to give the whole cake a toffee apple vibe. And then I've drizzled over some irresistable caramel sauce! It's a great cake for autumn in particular, but can be enjoyed any time of the year of course. It'd also be perfect for bakes sales and parties as it's quick and simple to make, and portions easily for a crowd.

    Apple Cake Traybake

    How to make Apple Cake Traybake...

    To make the sponge whisk together butter and light brown sugar.

    Then whisk in eggs, followed by grated apple, then flour and spices.

    Pour it into a lined tin and spread the mixture out evenly. Bake for around 25 minutes until golden.

    Make a caramel buttercream by mixing together butter, icing sugar and caramel extract. Then smooth it all over the apple cake.

    Apple Cake Traybake

    Tips for making the Apple Cake Traybake:

    • You can flavour the buttercream with vanilla instead if you like, or leave it out entirely and just enjoy the apple sponge with some custard!
    • I grate the apple, but you can also chop it up into small cubes
    • If you can't get hold of light brown sugar, regular white caster sugar will work fine too, the cake will just be a lighter colour
    Apple Cake Traybake

    What caramel sauce should I use?

    My favourite caramel sauce to use is my Homemade Caramel Sauce, it's rich, smooth and absolutely divine! You can also easily add salt to it to make it into a salted caramel sauce. If you don't want to make your own, it's quite easy nowadays to find a good quality ready made caramel (or salted caramel) sauce in the shops or online. I have used Tesco's Finest, Bonn Maman and Carnation Caramel in the past with great results.

    Apple Cake Traybake

    Recommended equipment & ingredients*

    • Traybake tin
    • Mixing bowls
    • Cooling rack
    • Kitchen scales
    • Mixed spice
    • Caramel extract

    *I earn a small amount of money if you buy the products after clicking on the links. You will not be charged anything extra for this. Thank you for supporting The Baking Explorer!

    Apple Cake Traybake

    More apple recipes...

    • Spiced Caramel Apple Bundt Cake
    • Apple Crumble Baked Donuts
    • Apple Crumble Cupcakes
    • Apple Cinnamon Cake
    • Spiced Apple Crumble
    • Apple Crumble Cake
    • Biscoff Apple Crumble
    • Apple Crumble Cheesecake (No Bake)
    Apple Cake Traybake

    Apple Cake Traybake

    Yummy apple cake with a toffee buttercream
    5 from 9 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: British
    Keyword: Cake
    Prep Time: 45 minutes
    Cook Time: 35 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
    Servings: 12
    Author: thebakingexplorer

    Ingredients

    For the sponge

    • 185 g Butter or baking spread
    • 225 g Light brown sugar
    • 3 Eggs large
    • 240 g Apples grated (about 3 small apples)
    • 1 tsp Cinnamon
    • ½ tsp Mixed spice
    • 275 g Self raising flour

    For the caramel buttercream

    • 160 g Butter or baking spread
    • 320 g Icing sugar
    • 2 tsp Caramel extract (I used Tesco's, if you can't find it see the recipe notes)

    For decoration (optional)

    • 85 g Caramel sauce Good quality shop bought or homemade
    Metric - US Customary

    Instructions

    • Pre-heat your oven to 160C Fan/180C/350F/Gas Mark 4, and grease and line a 12" x 9" traybake tin
    • To make the sponge, mix together the butter and light brown sugar until smooth, ideally using an electric mixer
    • Then whisk in the eggs. Then mix in the apple using a spatula
    • Then gently whisk in the self raising flour, cinnamon and mixed spice
    • Pour the mixture into the tin and bake for 25-30 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean. Leave to cool fully
    • To make the butercream use an electric hand whisk to mix together the butter and icing sugar, when they start to come together, add the caramel extract and mix until smooth. If the buttercream is too stiff then you can add some milk to it
    • Spread the frosting on top of the sponge, then drizzle over the caramel sauce
    • To serve, slice into squares. Store any leftovers in the fridge and eat within 3 days
    Made this recipe?Share on Instagram with me @TheBakingExplorer or tag #thebakingexplorer!

    Notes

    Mixed spice is a British spice blend containing Cinnamon, Coriander Seed, Nutmeg, Clove, Pimento, Ginger. If you can't get hold of it, use a Pumpkin Spice mix instead
    If you need a caramel sauce recipe, try my Homemade Caramel Sauce.
    If you can’t get caramel extract, add 75g caramel sauce to the buttercream instead, you will also need 1 ½ tbsp milk.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 327kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 70mg | Sodium: 137mg | Potassium: 70mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 28g | Vitamin A: 411IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 20mg | Iron: 1mg

    If you like this, check out more of my Traybake recipes!

    « Egg Custard Tarts
    Millionaire's Shortbread »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Anneli

      September 17, 2013 at 4:45 pm

      5 stars
      I love the sound of this cake and you have done such a good job making it!

      Reply
      • Kat BakingExplorer

        September 23, 2013 at 5:49 pm

        Thanks Anneli! 🙂

        Reply
    2. Stuart Vettese

      September 17, 2013 at 8:29 pm

      5 stars
      I love your cake!!

      Reply
      • Kat BakingExplorer

        September 23, 2013 at 5:50 pm

        Thanks Stuart!

        Reply
    3. Choclette

      September 19, 2013 at 7:52 pm

      Love your apple cake!

      Reply
      • Kat BakingExplorer

        September 23, 2013 at 5:51 pm

        Thank you!

        Reply
    4. Kim

      September 24, 2013 at 9:16 pm

      5 stars
      That cake looks brilliant!

      Reply
      • Kat BakingExplorer

        September 29, 2013 at 4:57 pm

        Thanks Kim!

        Reply
        • Wendy West

          September 17, 2021 at 7:27 am

          Hi Kat
          Can I just ask, when you say light brown sugar do you use the soft brown sugar? Looking forward to making this cake, looks delicious!

          Thank you

          Reply
          • thebakingexplorer

            September 17, 2021 at 8:09 am

            Hi Wendy, yes that's right, light brown soft sugar 🙂 I will update the ingredient name to make it clearer. I hope you enjoy the cake!

            Reply
    5. Yvonne Oconnell

      April 20, 2020 at 1:05 pm

      5 stars
      Thanks. Really lovely way to use up my apples. Tastes great.

      Reply
    6. Chloe Edges

      September 28, 2020 at 12:49 pm

      5 stars
      Looks delicious, I am a huge fan of salted caramel on.. Everything!

      Reply
      • thebakingexplorer

        September 28, 2020 at 6:05 pm

        I knew I liked you! 😀

        Reply
      • Sue

        September 28, 2020 at 8:44 pm

        5 stars
        Made these last week with apples from my garden. They were absolutely delicious and I will definitely be making them again. I didn't have caramel essence so added some biscoff spread to the buttercream instead.

        Reply

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