Swedish Apple Cake
Ingredients
For the Swedish Apple Cake:
- ½ cup butter, room temperature
- 1-⅔ cups granulated sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1-½ tsp. vanilla extract
- 1-½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1-½ tsp. cinnamon
- ½ tsp. nutmeg
- 3 cups apples, peeled and diced
- ¼ cup pecans or walnuts, chopped, optional
For the Caramel:
- 1-⅓ cups brown sugar
- 2 tbsp. half and half
- 4 tbsp. butter
Instructions
To prepare the Swedish apple cake:
- Pre-heat the oven to 350°F and thoroughly grease a 9-inch springform pan.
- In a small bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg.
- In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until smooth; add eggs, one at a time, followed by the vanilla.
- Slowly mix the dry ingredients into the wet until just combined; fold in apples and nuts, if using.
- Transfer the batter to the prepared pan; place in the pre-heated oven and bake for 35 – 40 minutes as you prepare the caramel; a cake tester, inserted in the middle of the cake should come out clean to indicate cake has completed baking.
To prepare the caramel:
- When cake has been baking for 30 minutes, start the caramel.
- To a small saucepan, over medium-low heat, add brown sugar, half and half and butter.
- Stir often until the mixture is smooth and fully combined; no need to bring to a full boil.
To complete the cake and serve:
- Remove the cake from the oven and pour caramel over the top.
- Return the cake to the oven for additional 10 – 15 minutes or until caramel is cracking and cake is cooked through the center.
- Allow cake to cool, on a wire rack, at least 15 minutes before slicing.