My Apple Dapple Cake is an updated version of the vintage recipe that combines apples, pecans, butter, and more into a decadent dessert that is one of the most moist (or is it moistest?) cakes I’ve ever eaten! The butter, brown sugar caramel sauce fills in holes you poke across the cake to add even more flavor!
This dense cake is traditionally made in a Bundt or tube pan, but I love making it as a sheet cake in a 9×13-inch dish because you don’t have to worry about the cake sticking AND you’re able to get more of that delicious caramel sauce down into the cake. To cover all the bases, I’ve include instructions in the printable recipe card below to make it all 3 ways.
What kind of apples should I use when baking?
For this cake, and most baked goods in general, I recommend using a firm-fleshed apple like a Granny Smith. It’s got tons of apple flavor and is firm enough to not turn to complete mush when baking. That said, you can use other firm-fleshed apples like Honeycrisp, Fuji, Braeburn, Pink Lady or others.
What’s the difference between a Bundt pan and tube pan?
I know this is labelled as a sheet cake, but since it can be made in a Bundt or tube pan, it’s worth mentioning the difference. For our general purposes, tube pans are round pans that have a center hole which allows thick cakes to bake through. They typically have straight or flat sides and are often called Angel Food pans because they’re often used to bake the confection. They can be found with and without nonstick coatings.
A Bundt pan is a type of tube pan that typically has fluted or decorative sides. Most Bundt pans have some sort of nonstick coating, but should still be greased and floured – in my opinion.
While this recipe can be made in either type of pan, they’re not always interchangeable, so be sure to follow your recipe.
Why do you call this a sheet cake?
Every time I post a recipe that includes the words sheet cake, I always hear back from folks complaining that a 9×13 is not a sheet cake. Here’s the deal… A full sheet pan is 26 X 18 inches. A half sheet is 18 X 13 inches. A quarter sheet is 9 X 13 inches. So technically this cake is a quarter sheet since it’s made in a 9×13-inch baking dish, but still a sheet cake. Apple Dapple Quarter Sheet Cake just doesn’t quite have the same ring to it. 😂
How do I store this apple cake?
While it’s fine on the counter for a day or so, I recommend storing this cake in the fridge since it has so many apples in it. It will spoil quickly otherwise. But I almost always warm it in the microwave since it’s best served close to room temp or slightly warm.
Ingredients
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- 2 cups sugar
- 3 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 3 cups peeled, cored, and diced apples* – (3 to 4 apples)
- 1 cup chopped pecans
Caramel Sauce
- 1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
- ¼ cup milk
- ½ cup unsalted butter
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.
- In a large bowl, stir together the oil, melted butter, and sugar. Add the eggs and mix well. Stir in the vanilla.
- In another bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and baking soda. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir until combined. Fold in the apples and pecans.
- Spread the mixture into the prepared pan and bake for 45 to 55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean with a few moist crumbs. Poke holes all throughout the cake with a skewer or toothpick.
- Make the caramel sauce by combining the brown sugar, milk, and butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a low boil and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 ½ minutes or until the mixture is about 200°F. Drizzle the sauce over the warm cake – paying special attention to get the sauce down into the holes poked into the cake. Allow to cool, then slice and serve at room temperature or slightly warm. Store covered in the refrigerator.
Notes
Nutrition
* If nutritional values are provided, they are an estimate and will vary depending on the brands used. The values do not include optional ingredients or when ingredients are added to taste. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, I recommend grabbing your favorite brands and plugging those ingredients into an online nutritional calculator.
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Great cake, I have made several times. It travels well on a road trip too.
Thanks, DC!
I a little afraid of making the Carmel. Could I use a jar of Carmel?
You could, but since this isn’t “real” caramel, you shouldn’t have any trouble with it.
Would it be okay to omit the sauce on top?
You certainly could, but I think that’s what makes this recipe so special.
Would it be okay to just not put the sauce on top?
Stacey, do you think you could make this with a cake mix base?
The 5 stars is for all your other recipes I’ve made that are amazing, since I haven’t tried this one yet.
Hmm… I’ve not tried it, but I can’t see why it couldn’t work. You’d likely need to use two car remixes (by following the directions on the box) and just add the apples.
This cake sounds so good. I’ve made many a fresh apple cake but not this one. Glaze sounds awesome! Can’t wait to make this! Thank you!
Sure hope you’ll enjoy it!
Did not, would not change a thing. Perfectly autumnal!
Thanks, Lawrence!
Perfect 10! I made this and took to a church event. Not even a crumb was left. Everyone loved it!
Love that! Thanks, Donna!
I’d like to give this recipe more than 5 stars!! I made it exactly as written with the exception of using coconut oil instead of vegetable oil. It was outstanding, moist, full of apple flavor and the caramel glaze just is perfect. I think next time I will double it, it is that good!
I’m so glad to hear you loved the recipe, Jean! Coconut oil is a great substitute, and it sounds like you nailed it. Doubling it next time is a fantastic idea. You can’t go wrong with more deliciousness!
I have not tried this yet, but it sounds delicious. I would rather not use all that oil and melted butter. Is there any way I can substitute any of it for a more healthy version?
Perhaps, but I’ve only ever made it this way, so I can’t say for sure.
Can I use self rising flour instead of plain flour?
I’ve not tried it, but I’d imagine you can use self-rising flour. You’ll need to skip the baking soda and salt in the recipe since self-rising flour already has those mixed in.
I made your Apple Dapple recipe…only change I made I added 2 Tbls. Cinnamon and an 1/8 tsp nutmeg ! It turned out delicious 😋 I used Honey Crisp Apples! 🍎 I’ll be making this again soon! Yummy ! Sorry I didn’t take a picture!
So glad to hear it turned out great for you, Cindy!
OMG looks so delish 😋
Can’t wait to make for friends & neighbors!
I’ve had some medical issues for a year and a half… but recovering well… so I’m ready to start baking again!
Baking is my ❤️ language!
I always look at your recipes and of course drool & Save! Lol
I’m a FL Southern girl
Thank you Stacy
Happy to hear you’re on the mend, Patti!!
Is that 710 calories per slice?
Yes, when it’s cut into 12 equal pieces, but you can cut it in smaller servings, if you like.
This cake is so good, and just as moist as described. I added 1 tsp of cinnamon, because I like cinnamon in apple cake. I used walnuts instead of pecans because that’s what I had. Everyone loved it!
Delicious and moist. I took one to our church women’s Christmas party and it got rave reviews. I added a tablespoon of cinnamon to the batter and it was awesome. I’ve made one without the cinnamon and to me it tastes bland. I just like the cinnamon spicy flavor! I also doubled the caramel glaze because a single recipe didn’t seem to cover the cake very well.
Looking forward to making this yummy cake. Can I use jarred Carmel sauce??? I have an extra jar from an ice cream party.
Yep! The flavor will be a little different, but I think it will work just fine!
Belated thank you for so many great desserts! I’m the baker for a Soup Kitchen (3 fridays +1 monday each month), and very often use your recipes – you are always a hit! Today’s desserts were this Apple Dapple Cake and your Caramel Pumpkin Crumb Cake. Wow! Big hits for sure. We served 100 plates (#s are increasing lately), and i had quite a few others just getting another dessert. So *thank you* for helping me serve those in my community who only rarely would have a freshly made dessert!🤗 I feel like we are kin anyhow since I have relatives in Prattville (my dad was from there) – and if ya ever want to run over to middle GA, you can hang with my crazy, caring and funny crew. Blessings to you, Stacy!
Paula! This comment made my day!!
Stacy, I love your recipes…if I were to half this recipe, how long do you think it should bake? I would love to try the Apple Dapple Sheet Cake but it’s just my husband and myself and we don’t need to eat the whole recipe.
Thank you, Kathy! I can’t say for sure, but I’d probably start checking it at about 35 minutes.
Quick question, can this cake be made with canned apples? We are having a family reunion and they would love this cake.
I’m honestly not sure. I’ve only ever done it with fresh apples. I suppose it depends on how they’ve been canned.
Love this recipe! So rich and moist. Once again I took it to church for Wed. night supper. Many requests for the recipe. Thanks!
So glad it was a hit!
Love the show
Thanks for watching!
This was a fav dessert growing up… so glad I found your recipe… just made it and my house smells amazing and the memories of that smell… 💞🥰💞
Thank you!!!
It’s quite the way to make your house smell amazing! Hope it tasted just as good!
This was outstanding. I left out the pecans because of allergies, but this cake was amazing!
So happy to hear that!
I’m glad you posted the recipe for the 1/4 sheet cake. I’ve been making this in a bunt pan. It is irresistible. Thank you.
Hope you’ll enjoy it!
I see that you have made this cake in a Bundt pan. Did you poke the holes in the cake while it was still in the pan, and then pour the caramel sauce on it, before taking the cake out of the pan, or did you poke holes after releasing the cake from the pan and then carefully drizzle the sauce over the cake?
Do you peel the apples?
Yes, I’d recommend they be peeled and cored before being diced.
Do you sift the flour? Great looking 🍎 dessert.
I don’t. Most commercially made flours don’t need to be sifted these days. Hope you’ll enjoy it!
Loved this! I got so many compliments on it, and it just got better and better tasting every day! It isn’t complicated to make and very much a crowd pleaser! Definitely adding this to my “Go To” desserts!
Love hearing things like this! So glad everyone enjoyed it!
Can it be frozen?
I don’t see why not.
It was a great apple cake and I will make it again.
So glad you liked it Pam!
This cake was so easy to make and delicious. I did sprinkle some cinnamon on the apples after I diced them before I put them in the batter. Will make this again and thanks for sharing the recipe.
That addition sounds great!
This cake was awsome. 😋It has no cinnamon which is good because I have family members that can’t have cinnamon. Thanks for sharing. 🥰
So glad this worked well for everyone!
Do you think this would still be tasty minus nuts?
Absolutely!
This apple dapple cake is in the oven as I type this comment, but I can’t have any until tomorrow, two hour’s on and the cake is baked, looks great and the smell’s all over the house are fantastic, roll on Saturday.
I hope it tastes as good as it looks and smells!
Yum. Made it vegan and gluten free for a big win. Made this with Namaste glutenn free flour, 1 c. Applesauce for the oil, flax eggs, plantbased butter and for the sauce , plant based butter and vegan coffee creamer. So good. Do not shy away from this recipe because of allergies and life style. Make it with your adaptions…. it’ll be great.
Thanks so much for sharing your adaptations, Jeannie! I often get requests for these type of changes, but don’t have much experience in either area.
Good gracious, this is really good. Had some extra apples and was looking for something to use a few in and this was perfect. Easy to make. This one is a keeper. Thanks for posting.
Awesome! So glad to hear it turned out great for you!
Thank you for making your instructions very clear. Alot of times steps are left out.
Plan on making this. 😊
You’re so welcome, Laurie! Hope you’ll enjoy it!
I made this on Friday and I have two pieces left. I shared with several people and they swooned after one bite. It is so delicious and beyond words. The caramel drizzles is perfect for it. I did add a teaspoon of cinnamon and 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom to the batter as I love that flavor with apples. Omg, it is the perfect dessert and cuts into nice clean pieces, perfect for a pot luck dinner. I am glad that it is made from scratch as you know what ingredients is in it. Thank you for sharing your recipes.
You’re so welcome! I’m glad to hear you enjoyed it!
This cake is absolutely delicious. I put half of it in the freezer, I hope is works.
So glad to hear you enjoyed it!
OMG, I can’t wait to make this and eat some. Lol. It looks absolutely delicious!!! I am sharing with my daughters.
Sure hope you’ll enjoy it!