The Rich Brown Butter Apple Upside Down Cake Recipe You Need

A golden brown butter apple upside down cake promises pure autumn magic in every slice.

Warm spices dance through tender cake layers, creating an irresistible aroma.

Maple and cinnamon whisper sweet promises of comfort.

Classic desserts sometimes need a delightful twist that surprises and delights.

Caramelized apples nestle beneath a rich, buttery crumb that melts on your tongue.

Seasonal ingredients shine brightest when treated with simple, loving attention.

Brown Butter Apple Cake With Irresistible Caramel Notes

• Quick and Effortless Baking: This Brown Butter Apple Upside Down Cake is a breeze to prepare, requiring minimal technical skills and basic kitchen equipment. Home bakers of all levels can confidently tackle this delightful dessert without feeling overwhelmed.
• Flavor-Packed Comfort: The recipe transforms simple ingredients into an extraordinary taste experience, combining nutty browned butter, caramelized apples, and warm cinnamon notes. Each bite delivers a rich, complex flavor profile that feels like a warm culinary hug.
• Versatile Crowd-Pleaser: Perfect for multiple occasions from casual family dinners to elegant gatherings, this cake adapts seamlessly. Its impressive presentation and irresistible aroma make it suitable for weeknight treats or special weekend celebrations, guaranteeing smiles from kids and adults.
• Time-Efficient Dessert: With just 45-50 minutes from start to finish, this cake offers maximum deliciousness with minimal time investment. Busy home cooks can easily whip up a memorable dessert without spending hours in the kitchen.

Brown Butter Apple Upside Down Cake – What Goes In

• All-Purpose Flour: Main structural component for the cake's tender crumb, go for unbleached if possible.
• Baking Powder: Essential leavening agent for creating cake's soft texture.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances sweetness.

• Unsalted Butter: Provides rich flavor and moisture, key for browning technique.
• Sour Cream: Adds tanginess and helps create a moist, tender cake texture.
• White Sugar, Dark Brown Sugar: Sweeteners that contribute different depths of flavor and moisture.

• Apples: Provide natural sweetness and soft texture, choose firm baking varieties like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp.
• Ground Cinnamon: Warm spice that complements apple's natural flavor.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds depth and rounds out the cake's overall taste profile.

• Eggs: Bind ingredients together and provide structure to the cake.

Upside-Down Apple Cake Instructions with Brown Butter

Step 1: Transform Butter into Liquid Gold

Melt butter in a medium skillet over medium-low heat.

Stir frequently until the butter breaks down, creates a foamy surface, and turns a stunning golden color with tiny brown specks.

The aroma should remind you of rich butterscotch.

Transfer the browned butter to a bowl and let it cool.

Clean the skillet for the next step.

Step 2: Soften Apple Slices

Place apple slices in the skillet with a sprinkle of cinnamon.

Cook over medium heat for 7-10 minutes until the apples become tender but maintain their shape.

Set the apples aside for later.

Step 3: Prepare the Oven and Pan

Heat the oven to 350°F.

Coat a 9-inch cake pan (minimum 2 inches deep) with butter or non-stick cooking spray.

Step 4: Create Caramel Layer

In a small saucepan, melt butter over medium heat.

Mix in dark brown sugar until the mixture becomes smooth and bubbly.

Pour the caramel evenly across the bottom of the prepared cake pan.

Arrange the cooked apple slices in a single, beautiful layer over the caramel.

Step 5: Mix the Cake Batter

• Flour
• Baking powder
• Salt

Whisk these dry ingredients in a medium bowl.

• Cooled browned butter
• White sugar
• Dark brown sugar

Whisk until smooth.

Add eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition.

Stir in vanilla and sour cream.

Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until just combined.

Step 6: Bake the Cake

Pour the batter over the apple and caramel layer, smoothing the top with a spatula.

Bake for 30-35 minutes.

Check doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center – it should come out clean.

Step 7: Flip and Serve

Allow the cake to rest in the pan for 10 minutes.

Carefully invert onto a serving plate.

Let it cool slightly before slicing and enjoying the delicious creation.

Upside Down Cake Tips for Apple & Brown Butter Glory

• Watch the butter closely while browning to achieve a rich, nutty flavor without burning. The perfect brown butter has a golden color and smells like butterscotch, not charred.
• Sauté apple slices just until softened to maintain their shape and prevent mushiness. This ensures a beautiful presentation and ideal bite when serving the cake.
• Fold dry ingredients into wet ingredients gently and minimally to keep the cake tender. Overmixing can lead to a tough, dense texture that ruins the cake's delicate crumb.
• Let the cake rest for exactly 10 minutes before inverting to allow the caramel to set slightly. Use a serving plate larger than the cake pan to catch all the delicious caramel topping.
• Allow the cake to cool for 15-20 minutes after inverting to let flavors meld and caramel stabilize. Serve slightly warm for the most decadent eating experience.

Save Brown Butter Apple Upside Down Cake

• Store leftover cake in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Cover the cake with plastic wrap or place it in a sealed container to maintain moisture and prevent absorption of other food odors.
• If enjoying within 1-2 days, keep the cake covered at room temperature away from direct sunlight. Place a clean kitchen towel over the cake to prevent drying out.
• Warm individual slices in the microwave for 15-20 seconds on medium power. Alternatively, reheat in a preheated 300°F oven for 5-7 minutes to restore the cake's soft texture and slightly crisp edges.
• Wrap the cake tightly in plastic wrap, then in aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving at room temperature or gently reheated.

Sweet Matches for Apple Upside Down Cake

• Pair with Warm Cinnamon Coffee: Brew a steaming cup of medium-roast coffee with a sprinkle of ground cinnamon, echoing the cake's warm spices and complementing its rich, caramelized apple flavor.
• Enhance with Salted Caramel Ice Cream: Serve a scoop of creamy salted caramel ice cream alongside the cake, creating a luxurious contrast between the warm, tender cake and the cold, smooth dessert.
• Match with Calvados Aperitif: Pour a small glass of Calvados, a French apple brandy, to intensify the apple notes and provide a sophisticated alcoholic accompaniment that elevates the dessert's depth.
• Complement with Spiced Chai Latte: Prepare a chai latte with hints of cardamom and ginger, offering a warming, aromatic beverage that harmonizes with the cake's brown butter and apple essence.

Upside Down Apple Cake Style Ideas

• Gluten-Free Version: Replace all-purpose flour with a gluten-free blend or almond flour to create a celiac-friendly cake without compromising taste and texture.
• Vegan Adaptation: Swap butter with coconut oil, use flax eggs instead of regular eggs, and select plant-based sour cream to transform the recipe into a dairy-free dessert.
• Low-Sugar Alternative: Substitute dark brown sugar with monk fruit sweetener or stevia, reducing overall sugar content while maintaining the cake's delicious caramelized apple flavor.
• Spiced Autumn Variation: Add ground nutmeg and cardamom to the apple mixture, enhancing the warm seasonal notes and creating a more complex flavor profile for fall baking enthusiasts.

FAQs

• Why brown the butter for this cake?

Browning butter develops a rich, nutty flavor with caramel-like notes that adds deeper complexity to the cake’s taste compared to regular melted butter.

• How do I know when the butter is perfectly browned?

Look for a golden color, smell a butterscotch-like aroma, and watch for small brown specks at the bottom of the pan. The butter will stop foaming and turn a warm amber color.

• Can I use different types of apples for this recipe?

Firmer baking apples like Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Braeburn work best because they hold their shape during cooking and provide a nice texture contrast in the cake.

• What makes the caramel topping special in this recipe?

The dark brown sugar creates a deep, rich caramel that complements the browned butter and apples, giving the cake a more sophisticated and intense flavor profile compared to traditional upside-down cakes.

Brown Butter Apple Upside Down Cake Recipe

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4.5 from 19 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Sweet caramel notes embrace Brown Butter Apple Upside Down Cake, creating a rustic dessert that celebrates seasonal harvest magic. Warm spices and tender fruit nestled beneath golden crumb promise pure comfort in each delightful slice you’ll savor.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 1.52 lbs (690 g) Granny Smith apples, peeled and sliced into 1/4-inch pieces
• 2 large eggs, room temperature
• 1 cup + 1 tablespoon (135 g) all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
• 3/4 cup (150 g) white sugar
• 1/4 cup (50 g) dark brown sugar, packed

Dairy and Flavoring Ingredients:

• 8 tablespoons (113 g) unsalted butter, browned
• 4 tablespoons (57 g) unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup (60 ml) sour cream, room temperature
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Spices and Leavening Agents:

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

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Instructions

1. Transform butter into a golden-hued nectar by gently heating in a skillet, stirring consistently until it develops a rich, butterscotch-like aroma with delicate amber flecks.
2. Transfer the liquid gold to a separate vessel, allowing it to cool and settle.
3. Cleanse the skillet and introduce apple slices with a whisper of cinnamon, sautéing until they soften yet maintain structural integrity.
4. Calibrate the oven’s temperature to 350°F and prepare a 9-inch cake vessel with a protective layer of butter or non-stick spray.
5. Craft a luxurious caramel foundation by melting butter and integrating dark brown sugar until the mixture becomes glossy and harmonious.
6. Cascade the caramel evenly across the prepared pan’s surface, then artfully arrange the sautéed apple slices in a uniform layer.
7. Combine flour, leavening agent, and salt in a receptacle, creating a dry ingredient symphony.
8. In a separate vessel, amalgamate the cooled browned butter with white and dark brown sugars until smooth and integrated.
9. Incorporate eggs individually, whisking thoroughly between additions, then blend in vanilla and sour cream.
10. Delicately fold dry ingredients into the wet mixture, ensuring minimal manipulation to preserve the batter’s tenderness.
11. Gently pour the batter over the apple arrangement, smoothing the surface with a spatula.
12. Bake for 30-35 minutes, monitoring until a inserted toothpick emerges pristine.
13. Allow the cake to rest in the pan for a brief 10-minute interlude before inverting onto a serving platform.
14. Permit slight cooling before slicing and presenting this golden confection.

Notes

• Butter Browning Technique: Heat butter slowly to develop rich, nutty flavors without burning, watching color carefully and stirring consistently.
• Apple Texture Control: Pre-cook apple slices briefly to ensure they hold shape during baking and prevent excess moisture in the cake.
• Caramel Stability: Use dark brown sugar for deeper flavor and more stable caramel base that won’t separate during baking.
• Gluten-Free Adaptation: Swap regular flour with 1:1 gluten-free flour blend to make the cake suitable for those with wheat sensitivities.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 325
• Sugar: 18 g
• Sodium: 180 mg
• Fat: 16 g
• Saturated Fat: 10 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 41 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 4 g
• Cholesterol: 60 mg