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Spiced Apple “Upside-Down” Cake: A cozy fall treat

Cakes · March 16, 2026 · 7 min read · 80 min total

Spiced Apple “Upside-Down” Cake: A cozy fall treat is a cakes recipe, about 80 minutes total, yielding 8-10 pieces, easy difficulty.

Golden brown apple upside down cake, shiny caramelized apple slices on top, on a rustic plate.

If you love the wonderful combination of apples and spices, this upside down cake will quickly become your favorite. A layer of caramelized apple slices tops a soft, flavorful sponge - a pastry that is as beautiful as it is delicious.

Enjoy this cake warm or at room temperature – either way it is a soothing treat for autumn afternoons or cozy get-togethers.

Ingredients for Spiced Apple Upside Down Cake including apples, flour, eggs, butter and ground spices on a wooden table.
All the essential ingredients for a spiced apple upside down cake.

Choose the right apples & spices

Firm, tart apples like Bramley or Granny Smith hold their shape best when baked, while a mix of cinnamon and ginger adds warmth and depth to the cake. For even more sophistication, you can also add nutmeg or allspice.

Apple slices are layered over brown sugar caramel in a pan.
The apples are placed on top of the buttery caramel for the base.

Lay out the apple slices neatly so that the cake has a particularly nice top after it is turned out. The brown sugar and butter create a simple caramel that beautifully flavors both the apples and the dough.

Baked Spiced Apple Upside Down Cake cools in pan, caramel visible around edge.
Freshly baked cake cooling before serving.

Tips for perfect caramelization

Don't overcook the caramel before adding the apples, and after baking, let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes before turning it out. This way the topping stays nice and doesn't stick to the mold.

Piece of apple upside-down cake with caramel apples and a scoop of vanilla ice cream on a plate.
A piece with shiny apples and melting ice cream.

This spiced apple upside-down cake tastes especially good with a dollop of crème fraîche or a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an extra treat.

Recipe

Ingredients

  • 3 medium tart apples, peeled, cored and sliced
  • 75g unsalted butter
  • 120g light brown sugar
  • 150 g wheat flour (Type 405)
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp ground ginger
  • 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
  • pinch of salt
  • 100 g fine sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 80 ml whole milk
  • 60 ml sunflower oil
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C top/bottom heat (160 °C fan oven). Grease the bottom of a 20 cm springform pan and line it with baking paper.
  2. Melt butter in a small saucepan, stir in brown sugar and simmer for 2 minutes. Pour the mixture into the mold and distribute the apple slices evenly on top.
  3. Mix flour, baking powder, spices and salt in a bowl.
  4. In another bowl, beat eggs and sugar until fluffy. Add oil, milk and vanilla and mix well.
  5. Fold in the dry ingredients. Pour the dough over the apples and smooth it out.
  6. Bake the cake for 40-45 minutes, until golden brown and a wooden pick comes out clean.
  7. Let the cake cool in the tin for 10 minutes, then turn it out onto a plate. Best served warm or at room temperature.