Recipe

Apple-spice Layer Cake With Caramel Swirl Icing Recipe

	Kytigger / All my dishes 2 months, 2 weeks ago This is a great holiday 3 layer cake. The cakes can be kept frozen, tightly wrapped in plastic wrap, for up to 3 weeks. Prep:30m Cook:40m Servings:14	Kytigger
	holiday makeahead caramel apple cake

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Fans

fishtrippi

peetabear

jett2whit

tuilelaith

momo_55gra

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter at room temperature

3 cups sugar

2 tablespoons light molasses

6 large eggs

3 cups cake flour

1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

2 tablespoons ground cinnamon

2 teaspoons ground allspice

1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1 cup sour cream

3 Granny Smith apples, peeled and shredded (about 1 1/2 cups)

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger (optional)

For the icing:

One 14-ounce bag caramels

4 tablespoons heavy whipping cream

2 tablespoons plus 1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter at room temperature

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 cups powdered sugar

1 cup (8 ounces) mascarpone (Italian cream cheese, available at most grocery stores)

2 cups pecan pieces, toasted (optional)

Directions

Place one oven rack in the bottom third of the oven and a second rack in the top third of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease three 9-inch cake pans with butter or cooking spray, then line each with a parchment paper round and grease the rounds.

Using an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Beat in the molasses. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating between each addition. In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda, salt, and ground spices to blend. Add the flour mixture and sour cream alternately to the batter. (Start and end with the flour mixture, adding the flour mixture in 3 increments and the sour cream in 2 increments.) After each addition, mix on low speed just to combine the ingredients. Stir in the shredded apples, vanilla, and ginger.

Spoon the batter (it will be thick) evenly into the prepared pans. Place two cake pans side by side on one rack and the third on the other. Stagger the cake layers on the oven racks so that no layer is directly over another. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until firm to the touch. Monitor the layers carefully for doneness; each one may be done at a different time. Remove from the oven and let cool in the pans for 10 minutes. Run a knife around the edges of the pans and unmold the cakes onto wire racks to cool completely, 15 to 30 minutes, before frosting.

The cakes can be kept frozen, tightly wrapped in plastic wrap, for up to 3 weeks. Defrost them at room temperature before unwrapping. Frost immediately.

To make the icing:

In a medium stainless-steel bowl, combine the unwrapped caramels, 2 tablespoons of the cream, and the 2 tablespoons butter. Place over a saucepan filled with 2 inches of simmering water. Stir the caramel mixture until smooth. Remove the bowl from the heat. Let cool, stirring the mixture every few minutes until cool to the touch, about 20 minutes. (If the mixture is too warm, it will melt the buttercream frosting when it is stirred in later.)

While the caramel is cooling, make the buttercream: Using an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the 1 1/2 cups butter on medium-high speed for about 1 minute, until pale in color. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons cream and the vanilla and powdered sugar, and beat for 3 minutes, until light and fluffy. Add the mascarpone and beat on medium-low speed until incorporated. Do not overbeat the mascarpone, or it may separate. Reserve 1/4 cup of the cooled caramel mixture to drizzle over the cake once it is frosted. Stir the remainder of the caramel into the frosting, using large strokes to create caramel swirls throughout. Don’t stir it too much or the ribbons of caramel will disappear.

Place one cake layer on a serving plate and spread a thick blanket of frosting on top. Add the second layer and spread thickly with frosting. Add the third layer and cover the top and sides of the cake with an even layer of frosting. Use a small spoon to drizzle the reserved 1/4 cup of caramel over the top of the cake. Pat on the toasted pecan pieces to cover the sides of the cake.

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Comments

jett2whit 2 months, 2 weeks ago said:
Sounds really moist. I never have molasses tho'!
:(

kytigger 2 months, 2 weeks ago said:
For 1 cup of molases you can substitute 1 cup of Dark Corn Syrup or 1 Cup of Honey, Or 1 cup of Maple Syrup or 3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar.

Obviously the Maple syrup will have the most profound impact on the final flavor. Any will work well though and you may end up with better than what you expected! Many of the worlds great recipes were made by mistake.

peetabear 2 months, 2 weeks ago said:
Yummy combo... five forks

momo_55grandma 2 months, 2 weeks ago said:
Kytigger,this is awsome. Luv the ingredient combo here bet its a beautiful cake thanks high5

kendi25 2 months, 1 week ago said:
I will make this one for my Thanksgiving get together

m11andrade 2 months, 1 week ago said:
Oh, wow! This is another beautiful recipe. I cannot wait to make this for my oldest brother, who is a great fan of apple cakes!!

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