Apple Cake in an Iron Skillet Recipe

This Apple Cake in an Iron Skillet is a moist and caramelized recipe, which is made with Granny Smith apples and sour cream. It’s the ultimate comfort food recipe, ready in about 50 minutes.

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Apple Cake in an Iron Skillet Ingredients

For the Apple Topping:

• 1 stick (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 4 whole Granny Smith apples, cored, halved, and each half cut into six equal pieces

For the Cake Batter:

• 1 stick (8 tablespoons) butter, softened
• 2/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup sour cream, room temperature
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1 Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored, and chopped finely
• Vanilla ice cream, for serving

How To Make Apple Cake in an Iron Skillet

1. Prep Oven and Make Topping: Preheat your oven to 375°F. In a 9 to 10-inch cast-iron skillet, melt the 1 stick of butter over low heat. Add the ¾ cup of sugar and stir. Arrange the apple slices, cut-side down, in the skillet over the butter and sugar mixture. Let this cook over low to medium-low heat for about 10 minutes while you make the cake batter.
2. Make the Cake Batter: In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the softened butter and 2/3 cup of sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in the vanilla and eggs. Add the sour cream and mix well.
3. Combine and Finish Batter: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. On low speed, gradually add the flour mixture to the creamed butter mixture until just combined. Gently stir in the finely chopped apple.
4. Assemble and Bake: Remove the skillet with the apple topping from the heat. Carefully spoon the cake batter over the top of the apples, spreading it gently so the batter is evenly distributed. Place the skillet on a foil-lined baking sheet (to catch any drips) and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the cake is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
5. Invert and Serve: Let the cake sit in the skillet for five minutes. Carefully place a large serving plate over the skillet and, using oven mitts, confidently flip the skillet to invert the cake onto the plate. Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Recipe Tips

• What are the best apples for this cake? Granny Smith apples are perfect because their tartness balances the sweet caramel topping and their firm texture holds up well to cooking. Honeycrisp or Braeburn would also be great choices.
• How to get a perfect flip? The key is confidence and safety! Make sure your serving plate is larger than the skillet. Wear sturdy oven mitts on both hands. Place the plate firmly on top of the skillet, hold them together tightly, and flip quickly and decisively.
• Can I make this without a cast-iron skillet? Yes. You can make the apple topping in a regular skillet, then pour it into a 9-inch round cake pan. Pour the batter over the top and bake as directed. You will still need to invert the cake.
• Why use room temperature sour cream? Using room temperature ingredients, especially dairy like sour cream and eggs, helps them incorporate more easily into the batter, resulting in a smoother, more uniform cake crumb.

What To Serve With Skillet Apple Cake

This is essentially an upside-down cake, and it’s a fantastic dessert served warm from the oven. It’s best with:

• A scoop of vanilla bean ice cream that will melt into the warm caramel
• A dollop of fresh, unsweetened whipped cream
• A drizzle of extra caramel sauce

How To Store Skillet Apple Cake

• Refrigerate: Let the cake cool completely, then cover it and store it in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
• Reheating: Reheat individual slices in the microwave until warm. The caramel topping will become soft and gooey again.

Skillet Apple Cake Nutrition Facts

• Calories: 450-550 kcal
• Fat: 25g
• Carbohydrates: 55g
• Protein: 5g

Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.

FAQs

Try More Recipes:

• Caramel Apple Pie Recipe
• Apple-Pecan Mini Pies Recipe
• Apple Cheddar Scones Recipe