1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
2 large eggs, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
2-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1-3/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon salt
1-1/2 cups buttermilk
TOPPING:
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup cold butter
3/4 cup finely chopped pecans
1/2 cup old-fashioned oats
6 cups thinly sliced peeled Gala or other sweet apples (about 6 medium)
18 caramels, unwrapped
1 tablespoon buttermilk
Optional toppings: Vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, and additional chopped pecans and ground cinnamon
1Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. In another bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk, beating well after each addition. Pour into a greased 12-in. cast-iron or other ovenproof skillet.
2For topping, in a small bowl, mix brown sugar and flour; cut in butter until crumbly. Stir in pecans and oats; sprinkle over batter. Top with apples. Bake until apples are golden brown, 60 to 70 minutes. Cool in pan on a wire rack.
3In a microwave, melt caramels with buttermilk; stir until smooth. Drizzle over cake. Let stand until set. Serve with toppings as desired.
Total Time
Prep: 35 Min. Bake: 1 Hour + Standing
My grandma used to bake a version of this for me when I was a little girl. She would make it using fresh apples from her tree in the backyard. I've adapted her recipe because I love the combination of apples, pecans and caramel.
Nutrition Facts
1 piece: 462 calories, 19g fat (9g saturated fat), 64mg cholesterol, 354mg sodium, 68g carbohydrate (42g sugars, 3g fiber), 7g protein.