Fresh Apple Cake with Pecan Praline Sauce

This snack size Fresh Apple Cake with a Pecan Praline Sauce encapsulates all of my favorite things about a fresh apple cake. A dense rich caramel batter, fresh apple slices and toasted pecans. Top that with a homemade pecan praline sauce and it’s pretty much perfection in my book. The only thing left to do is to top it with a dollop of fresh whipped cream and enjoy the feeling of contentment after eating.  Then you might want to take either a nap or a long walk.  Maybe both.

Easy Fresh Apple Cake Recipe with Pecan Praline Sauce

The homemade batter in this easy apple cake recipe is thicker. It’s practucally as thick as cookiedough by design. Why? Becuase this cake is made with raw apples that break down while baking adding moisture to the texture and tons of apple flavor. The juice from the apples magically fills the thick cake batter while it’s baking. The cake is prefectly delicious served warm with a dusting of powdered sugar alone. That said, the homemade pecan praline glaze takes it over-the-top and it’s so easy to make. Since this cake is made in a single layer in a 9-inch square pan, it’s fantastic for those smaller gatherings when you don’t want too many leftovers. How to make simple Fresh Apple Cake Recipe: (Scroll down for full printable recipe card.)

• Preheat Oven to 350ºF. Spary cake pan with baking spray.
• Pecans – Toast and cool.
• Dry Ingredients – Use a whisk to sift together flour, cinnamon, salt, baking soda and spices in a large bowl.
• Wet Ingredients – In a separate bowl stir together butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, eggs and vanilla.
• Combine – Add wet mixture to the dry ingredients and stirring until fully combined.
• Raw Apples – Add sliced apples and pecans. Mix until evenly distributed.
• Transfer Cake Batter – Pour cake batter in the prepared pan.
• Oven – Bake per the recipe covering with foil halfway through baking.
• Test for Doneness – Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake shows moist crumbs.
• Cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
• Make the Pecan Praline Sauce – In a large pot simmer brown sugar, heavy cream and butter. Add the vanilla extract and toasted pecans. Mix well and cool for 5-10 minutes..
• Pour over the cake prior to serving with fresh whipped cream, a scoop of vanilla ice cream or Cool Whip.

How to Make the Best Fresh Apple Cake Recipe

• Ingredients you’ll nee to make homemade Fresh Apple Cake with Pecan Praline Sauce: Granny Smith apples, all purpose flour, pecans, cinnamon, salt, baking soda, ginger, nutmeg, butter, light brown sugar, granulated sugar, large eggs and vanilla extract. Whipped cream, vanilla ice cream or Cool whip for serving.
• Ingredients to make the Pecan Praline Sauce:  Light brown sugar, heavy cream, butter and vanilla. Plus reserved toasted chopped pecans not used in batter.
• Kitchen tools you’ll need:  Stand mixer or hand mixer, large mixing bowl, medium bowl, whisk, sheet pan to toast the pecans, measuring cups, tablespoons and teaspoons, silicone spatula, small saucepan, apple corer and vegetable peeler or sharp knife and chopping board, 9×9-inch cake pan, wire rack, and serving spatula.
• You can swap out vegetable oil or canola oil for melted butter in apple cake but NOT in the praline sauce.
• You can use your favorite variety of raw apples in this recipe. However, I don’t recommend red or yellow delicious. Apples like Granny Smith apples, honeycrisp apples and gala are the best apples to use for a fresh raw apple cake.
• You can swap out walnuts for the pecans for a slightly different flavor.
• You may opt to drizzle this cake with caramel sauce, if time doesn’t allow for making the praline sauce.
• If you want smaller portions before glazing the entire cake, cut into desired size pieces and wrap them individually in freezer wrap. Pop them into the freezer for dessert another day.
• Thaw frozen pieces of raw apple cake overnight in the fridge, and enjoy a piece dusted with powdered sugar or whip up a fresh batch of the pecan praline sauce, just before serving. It’s delicious alongside a cup of coffee or hot tea for a mid morning treat.
• When serving this easy apple cake recipe immediately, I like to have fresh whipped cream ready for those who might enjoy a dollop on their cake. The cinnamon, apples, toasted pecans and buttery praline sauce turns this into one delightful Southern-style dessert.
• Storage and Leftovers: Store Fresh Apple Cake in an airtight container or covered with plastic wrap or alumiunm foil chilled in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
• If you anticipate having leftovers, only pour the praline sauce over the portion of the cake that you plan to eat.
• Store the pecan praline glaze separately from the cake and warm slightly until it’s pourable just before serving.

More Apple Dessert Recipes to Make

• Cozy up to a bowl of Apple Cobbler with vanilla ice cream for dessert.
• Apple Pie Cinnamon Rolls will take you from breakfast to dessert.
• This Apple Cider Doughnut Cake tastes just like fall.
• Apple Pie Bars are perfection when handheld desserts on on the menu.
• Kickstart your morning with Apple Baked Oatmeal.
• These glazed Apple Fritters are impossible to resist.
• You may also like to try these Cinnamon Apple Puffs from Lovefoodies.

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Helpful Kitchen Items:

• Mixing Bowls
• Mixer
• Measuring Set
• Square Pan

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Fresh Apple Cake With A Pecan Praline Sauce

Prep Time20 minutes mins

Cook Time55 minutes mins

Cooling time2 hours hrs

Total Time3 hours hrs 15 minutes mins

Course: Cake, Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: apple-cake, apple-desserts, fresh-apple-cake-pecan-praline-sauce

Servings: 9 pieces

Calories: 532kcal

Author: Melissa Sperka

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cup roughly chopped pecans toasted (divided use)
• 2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 Tbsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp ground ginger
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/2 cup butter melted
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp pure vanilla
• 4 medium apples peeled cored and thinly sliced
• Pecan Praline Sauce:
• 1 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1/4 cup salted butter
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• Fresh whipped cream for serving optional

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Spread pecans in a single layer on a baking sheet. Toast for 5-7 minutes. Cool completely.
• Sift together flour, cinnamon, salt, baking soda, ginger and nutmeg.
• In a separate bowl mix together the melted butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, eggs and vanilla.
• Add wet to the dry ingredients and stir by hand until fully combined. Add sliced apples, and 3/4 cup chopped pecans. Mix until evenly distributed.
• Spray a 9 x 9- inch non stick metal pan with baking spray. Spread the batter into the pan.
• Place into the oven and bake for 30 minutes. Lay a piece of aluminum foil on top and continue to bake for an additional 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center shows moist crumbs.
• Cool completely in the pan on a cooling rack.
• To make the pecan praline sauce:
• Add the brown sugar, heavy cream and butter to a heavy bottomed saucepan. Bring to s boil then lower the heat and cook for 2 minutes stirring constantly.
• Remove form the heat and add the vanilla and remaining 1/2 cup toasted pecans. Mix well and cool for 5-10 minutes..
• Pour over the cake prior to serving with fresh whipped cream on the side, if desired.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 532kcal | Carbohydrates: 106g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 73mg | Sodium: 461mg | Potassium: 277mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 79g | Vitamin A: 467IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 86mg | Iron: 2mg

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