Apple Walnut Caramel Cake

This Apple Walnut Caramel Cake is a mouthwatering rich dessert, full of flavor and texture, perfect for any time of the year. Soft and moist apple cake layers topped with a crunchy caramelized walnuts, filled with dulce de leche buttercream and topped with salted caramel sauce. The caramel walnut shards on top of the cake not only look amazing but bring an amazing crispy touch too.

This is the first time in my video recipes I am using a buttercream made with sweetened condensed milk/dulce de leche and I must say it has become one of my favorite frostings lately. It prepares so quick and so easy, not too sweet with an incredible flavor and texture. Totally recommend this frosting and will definitely try it again soon. Enjoy!

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Apple Walnut Caramel Cake

5 from 2 votes

This Apple Walnut Caramel Cake is a mouthwatering rich dessert, full of flavor and texture, perfect for any time of the year. Soft and moist apple cake layers topped with a crunchy caramelized walnuts, filled with dulce de leche buttercream and topped with salted caramel sauce.

Servings 14 servings

Prep Time 50 mins

Cook Time 30 mins

Total Time 1 hr 20 mins

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Ingredients

  

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Walnut Crunch

• 1/2 cup (100g) light brown sugar
• 5 tbsp (70g) butter
• 3 tbsp (40ml) whipping cream
• 1 cup (100g) walnuts/pecans , toasted if desired and chopped

Apple Cake Layers

• 12 oz (340g) apples (about 2 apples) , peeled
• 2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp (8g) baking powder
• 1 tsp (6g) baking soda
• 1 tsp (5g) salt
• 2 tsp (6g) cinnamon
• 4 eggs
• 3/4 cup (150g) light brown sugar
• 1/3 cup (70g) sugar
• 1 cup (230g) vegetable/canola oil
• 1 tsp (5g) vanilla extract

Dulce de Leche Buttercream

• 9 oz (250g) unsalted butter , room temperature
• 1 can (14 oz-397g) Dulce de Leche , room temperature
• 1 tsp (5g) vanilla extract

Caramel Shards

• 1/2 cup (50g) walnuts/pecans , toasted if desired and chopped
• 1/2 cup (100g) sugar
• 2 tbsp (30ml) water

Caramel Sauce

• 1/2 cup (100g) sugar
• 2 tbsp (30ml) water
• 1/4 cup (60g) whipping cream
• 1 tbsp (14g) unsalted butter , room temperature
• 1/2 tsp (2.5g) vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp (2.5g) salt

Instructions

 

• Grease three 8 inch (20cm) round cake pans and line with parchment paper.
• Prepare the walnut crunch. In a small saucepan add sugar, whipping cream and butter. Cook over medium-low heat until sugar dissolves.
• Divide the mixture evenly in two pans. Sprinkle chopped walnuts/pecans on top. Set aside until apple cake batter is prepared.
• Prepare apple cake layers. Preheat oven to 350F (180C).  In a medium bowl whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Set aside.
• In a large bowl add eggs with both sugar and mix for few minutes until creamy and lighter in color. Add oil and mix until well combined. Add vanilla extract.  Gradually mix in flour mixture. Using a spatula incorporate the apple pieces.
• Pour the batter evenly into the prepared pans.
• Bake for about 20-25 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
• Let pans cool on a cooling rack.
• Prepare dulce de leche buttercream. Both butter and dulce de leche need to be at room temperature before preparing the frosting.
• In case you can not find dulce de leche in stores you can always prepare it in advance using cans of sweetened condensed milk. Place the unopened and unlabeled can of sweetened condensed milk in a saucepan, and cover with water. Place the saucepan over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Cook for 2.5- 3 hours. Remove from heat, remove the can from water and cool.
• In a large bowl mix butter until light and fluffy, for about 5-7 minutes.
• Incorporate vanilla extract.  Gradually add dulce de leche, mixing after each addition. Once incorporated the buttercream is ready to use.
• Assemble the cake. Place one cake layer on your serving plate with walnut crunch on top. Spread evenly with a bit less than a third of buttercream. Add the second layer of cake with walnut crunch on top. Spread evenly with bit less than a third of buttercream.  Add the last layer of cake. Spread the top and edges with the remaining buttercream. Decorate the bottom of the cake with chopped nuts. Refrigerate to set for at least 1 hour.
• Prepare caramel shards. Spread chopped walnuts/pecans on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.
• Place water and sugar into a small saucepan and cook over medium heat until sugar dissolves and gets a caramel dark color.
• Pour the caramel over the chopped nuts and refrigerate until ready to use.
• Prepare the caramel sauce. Place the sugar and water in a medium heavy bottomed saucepan over medium-high heat, and cook without stirring until sugar dissolves and gets a caramel color.
• Remove the pan from the heat and add the cream. It will bubble a little bit.
• Cook for about 1 minute stirring constantly with a wooden spoon until smooth.
• Remove from heat and add butter, vanilla and salt. Stir well until smooth. Pour into a bowl to cool slightly.
• Use a spoon and start making drips around the edges.  If the sauce hardened too much heat it a bit over bain-marie to get to a pouring consistency.
• Top the cake with remaining caramel sauce and spread using an offset spatula.
• Refrigerate to set for at least 30 minutes.
• Break caramel into shards and decorate the cake. Enjoy. Refrigerate leftovers.

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 686kcalCarbohydrates: 68.5gProtein: 7.1gFat: 44.8gSaturated Fat: 16.2gCholesterol: 113mgSugar: 48.7g

Calories: 686kcal

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: apple caramel cake, apple layer cake, apple walnut caramel cake, caramel shards, fall cake, walnut caramel cake