Apple Upside Down Cake

Apple upside down cake is a spice cake that is paired with freshly diced apple slices, brown sugar, and walnuts. Bake to golden and then flip the cake upside down to reveal the gorgeous diced apples and nut topping. This apple spice cake is packed with flavor and a must make dessert for the fall and winter months.

This uses a box cake recipe so it makes the prep work crazy simple. Change up from a pineapple upside down cake, and use fresh apples for this glorious apple cake. Pair with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and you have a dessert everyone will enjoy.

Also make sure to try our apple hand piescheesecake stuffed apples or even this 2 ingredient cinnamon roll apple cup recipe.

This Apple Upside Down Cake Is…

• Good for apple season
• Sweet tooth approved
• Fresh apples in each bite
• Made with boxed cake mix
• Easy to make
• Dessert
• Simple ingredients

Ingredients Needed

Spice Cake Mix – You will use a boxed cake mix and use the ingredients on the back of the box required to make the cake batter.

Brown Sugar – we used a light brown sugar but you can use a regular brown sugar as well. Either will work for this apple cake.

Walnuts – If you want some crunch we used walnuts for this but almonds or pecans would be a tasty twist in flavor.

Apples – Any baking apples work but feel free to use a sour or sweet apple. You can use a sour apple to give it a tangy component or honey crisp for a sweeter component.

How to Make

Full directions on how to make this apple upside down cake are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post. This is a quick walk through with images to help you see how it is made.

Step One: The first step is to preheat your oven and then place your butter in the pan and let it melt and once the butter is melted remove from the oven.

Step Two: Add in the brown sugar sprinkling all over the pan followed by the walnuts and diced apples.

Step Three: Add your cake mix into a bowl and add the wet ingredients listed on the back of the box. Stir well and then pour the cake batter over the apple mixture.

Step Four: Bake as directed and once the cake is done let it cool 2-4 minutes and then flip it upside down on a platter so the apple mixture is at the top of the cake.

Then slice and serve up this cake with a scoop of ice cream.

Tips and Variations

Here are some simple changes you can make to this easy apple dessert that is full of your usual fall flavors.

• Peeling your apples will help make the cake less chewy.
• Spread the butter, brown sugar, nuts and apples evenly all over the bottom of the pan.
• You can use a rectangle serving plate to flip your cake over on, or even a cookie sheet that has sides on it.
• Tart apples will help balance out the sweetness in the cake mixture.
• You can add some caramel sauce in with the brown sugar, as it will create a caramel apple upside down cake. The brown sugar and butter give this cake a mild caramel flavor.
• We used spice cake mix but you could use a white cake or even yellow cake mix to pair with the melted butter and apple topping.
• We used a 9×13 baking pan. Make sure to grease the pan before you add items into it to prevent sticking.

Storing Leftover Cake

You can allow the cake to cool on a wire rack and then once cool place in an airtight container and store the cake in the fridge for up to 5 days. This is one of our favorite recipes to make and serve up warm fresh from the oven. Or let it cool in the fridge and then eat it cold straight from the fridge. Either hot or cold tastes.

You can also freeze any leftover spiced apple upside-down cake you don’t want to eat right away. Place in a freezer container and freeze for 1-2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight when you are ready to eat it.

Practical notes

Can we use homemade cake mix instead of boxed cake mix?

Yes, you are welcome to whip up your usual homemade cake batter. Just pour it over the apples, brown sugar, butter, and nuts. We took the easy way and used boxed to speed up the prep work on this dessert. It is an easy recipe with minimal effort.

What are the best apples to use for this cake?

You can use Granny Smith apples for a sour apples flavor. Or use Pink Lady, Honeycrisps, or other baking apples. You will want juicy apples that are meat to be baked so they hold up and don’t become too mushy.

More Apple Desserts

• Apple Pie Cheesecakes
• Stuffed Apples Air Fried
• Caramel Apple Dip

Have you tried the recipe? If so, please leave a star ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating in the recipe card below or drop a comment. Also stay in touch with us through social media by following us on Facebook Pinterest or our Facebook Group

Ingredients

Makes 12 servings

• 1 15.25 ounce Boxed Spice Cake, Plus ingredients on box to make cake (egg, oil, water)
• 3 large baking apples
• 1/2 cup butter
• 2/3 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped

Equipment

• 9×13 Baking Dish
• Peeler
• Cutting Board
• Measuring Cups

Method

1. The first step is to preheat the oven to 325 for aluminum nonstick pan or 350 for glass.
2. Next in your 9×13 baking pan place the stick of butter in it, and place in oven to allow the butter to melt as the oven is preheating. This takes a few minutes to make.
3. While butter is melting peel and dice up your apples into bite size cubes.
4. Spread the butter all over the pan, then sprinkle the brown sugar down, walnuts and apples.
5. Mix up your spice cake mix as directed on the box. Use the ingredients it calls for on the box. Then pour the cake batter into the pan on top of the apple mixture.
6. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until the cake is fully cooked through.
7. Remove the cake and let it rest for 2-4 minutes. Then place a platter on top of the pan and carefully flip the cake so it is upside down.
8. Lift up the pan and you will have your upside down apple cake.

Kitchen notes

Cake Mix

– You are welcome to use a different flavor of cake mix if you don’t want to use spice cake. We find the spice cake adds tons of flavor to the cake. Refrigerate – Make sure to refrigerate any cake you don’t eat as it can spoil if left out at room temperature.