Apple Skillet Cake-Baked in Cast Iron
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This Apple Skillet Cake has layers of soft, sweet cake and tangy apple slices all baked perfectly in a cast iron skillet. Loaded will all your favorite Fall flavors like cinnamon and nutmeg, this is a perfect dessert for a family party on a chilly evening.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This easy Apple Skillet Cake made with your favorite Fall flavors like cinnamon and nutmeg then baked right in a 10.25 inch cast iron skillet, this Apple Skillet Cake will for sure become a go to skillet cake recipe.
- Easy Skillet Dessert– no cake pan to clean or grease, baked right in a cast iron skillet. Serve with a scoop of ice cream and some warm caramel sauce for the best Fall dessert.
- Made with Simple Ingredients– Fall spice flavors (cinnamon and nutmeg), flour, butter, canned pumpkin puree, and cream cheese make this skillet cake an easy dessert for Holiday parties or just a sweet treat.
- A Great Way to Serve Cake– making cakes in your cast iron skillet is a fun way to add a little old home style to your baking recipes and makes the most delicious, moist cakes.
⭐️ Looking for other Cast Iron Cake Recipes? Check out my recipes for Skillet Carrot Cake, Skillet Butter Cake, or this Apple Cinnamon Cake.
Why I Recommend Baking in a Cast Iron Skillet
- I love using my cast iron skillet to make a quick dinner, the perfect steak as well as for baking everything like this Giant Cinnamon Roll Cake.
- Cast iron is known for its even heat distribution which makes a perfect outer crust and moist center, for the best skillet cake recipes.
- Cast iron also has a non-stick surface that helps the cake release easily and makes clean up a breeze! Who doesn’t love that?!
Can I Make This Apple Cake Without a Cast Iron Skillet?
If you don’t own a cast iron skillet, make plans to get one soon, but in the meantime, this skillet dessert can be made in a 9 inch round cake pan.
Grease the cake pan with butter or cooking spray before adding the cake batter, then cook according to the instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this page.
Check the cake center for doneness by inserting a toothpick, it should come out clean when the cake is cooked through.
Ingredients Needed For This Recipe
- butter– fresh, unsalted butter is what I like to use for this recipe.
- sugar and brown sugar– the combination of white sugar and light brown sugar creates a sweet, robust, bakery-like cake.
- eggs– use 2 large, room temperature eggs for best results.
- vanilla bean paste– this has a richer flavor, but if you only have real vanilla extract, that will work great.
- milk– this adds moisture to the cake, giving it a nice, soft texture.
- flour– use all purpose flour for the best results in this cake recipe
- salt– I like to use a fine sea salt for this apple cake recipe
- baking powder– this helps the cake rise and helps give it a tender crumb
- spices– warm Fall spices like cinnamon and nutmeg give this cake a flavor that is perfect for a Fall dessert.
- apples– thinly sliced, peeled apples are the star of this recipe. I like to use Gala apples or Granny Smith apples for this recipe for the best flavor.
How to Make Apple Skillet Cake Recipe
- Mix Wet Ingredients– in a large mixing bowl whisk together the melted butter, sugars, eggs, and vanilla until the sugars are well incorporated.
- Mix in Dry Ingredients– to the wet ingredients add the flour, salt, baking powder, and spices. Mix until well combined with the wet ingredients.
- Fold in Apples– peel the skin from the apples and remove the core. Slice the apples into thin slices and fold into the mixed cake batter.
- Prepare for Baking– pour the cake batter into a 10 inch cast iron skillet.
- Bake– place the cake in a 375º F oven and bake the cake for 40-45 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, or the temperature of the cake measures 200º F with an instant read thermometer.
- Cool– allow the cake to cool for at least 30 minutes before dusting with powdered sugar, slicing and serving.
Storage Instructions
To Store– To store any leftover Apple Skillet Cake, remove it from the cast iron pan and store in an air tight container for up to 3 days on the counter.
To Freeze– Freeze this cast iron skillet dessert in slices (or whole) for up to 3 months in an air tight container or freezer bag. Thaw on the counter top.
FAQs
A nice, firm, crisp apple is best for baking in this apple cake recipe to help keep texture and not add too much moisture. I like Gala, Pink Lady, or Granny Smith Apples. Other apples that will work are: Braeburn, Honeycrisp or Fuji.
This can be baked in a 9 inch cake pan if you do not own a cast iron skillet.
Serving Suggestion
- Serve warm with a dusting of powdered sugar.
- Top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and warm caramel
- Drizzle caramel sauce over the warm cake before serving
Other Skillet Desserts We Love:
Apple Cake
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter melted and cooled
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 2 eggs room temperature
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 3 cups apples peeled, cored and thinly sliced. 3-4 apples
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375º F and grease a 10.25 inch cast iron skillet
- In a large mixing bowl whisk together 1/2 cup butter melted, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 2 eggs, 1/2 cup milk, 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla bean paste. Mix until the sugars have fully combined.
- Add the 1 cup all purpose flour, 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt, 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg. Use a spatula or wooden spoon to mix the batter together until smooth.
- Fold the apples into the batter.
- Pour the apple cake batter into the prepared cast iron skillet. Bake for 35-40 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Allow the cake to cool for 30 minutes before slicing or dusting with powdered sugar.
Notes
- Nutrition facts are just an estimate of the ingredients listed.
- This can also be baked in a 9 inch cake pan but might take longer, check for doneness with a toothpick.
- I prefer to use Gala, or Fuji apples for this cake recipe
