
Ingredients for - Salted Caramel Apple Crumble Cake
How to cook deliciously - Salted Caramel Apple Crumble Cake
1. Stage
Place a rack in center of oven; preheat to 350°. Grease 3 (8") round pans with cooking spray. Line pans with parchment.
2. Stage
In a large bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, ginger, nutmeg, and salt until combined. In the large bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat brown sugar, butter, and granulated sugar on medium-high speed until creamy and lightened in color, 2 to 3 minutes. Add oil and beat until incorporated. Add eggs, one at a time, beating to blend after each addition. Beat in vanilla.
3. Stage
Add one-third of dry ingredients and apple cider and beat on low speed until just combined. Add another third of dry ingredients and buttermilk and beat until combined, then add remaining dry ingredients and beat just until no dry streaks remain. Divide batter among prepared pans (about 465 grams per pan).
4. Stage
Bake cakes until risen and springy to the touch and a tester inserted into the center comes out with moist crumbs attached, 22 to 28 minutes. Let cool completely before removing from pans.
5. Stage
Make Ahead: Cakes can be made 1 day ahead. Individually wrap cakes in plastic wrap and refrigerate.
6. Stage
In a large pan over medium heat, melt butter. Stir in apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the apples are just tender, about 10 minutes.
7. Stage
In a small bowl, whisk cornstarch and 2 teaspoons water. Pour slurry over apples and stir to incorporate. Return to a simmer and cook until slightly thickened, about 1 minute more. Let cool completely.
8. Stage
Make Ahead: Apple filling can be made 3 days ahead. Let cool, then store in an airtight container and refrigerate.
9. Stage
In a medium bowl, whisk flour, brown sugar, and salt until combined. Add butter and toss until all butter cubes are coated in flour mixture.
10. Stage
With clean hands, continue to toss, smushing butter between your fingertips, until butter is flattened into large shards. Continue to toss, rubbing butter into finer and finer pieces, until mixture resembles coarse cornmeal and holds together in lumps if pressed.
11. Stage
Spread crumble mixture onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze 10 minutes.
12. Stage
Preheat oven to 350°. Bake crumble from frozen 10 minutes. Remove from oven and toss with a heatproof spatula to redistribute. Continue to bake until lightly browned, 5 to 10 minutes more (crumble will crisp as it cools). Let cool.
13. Stage
Make Ahead: Crumble can be made 1 day ahead. Let cool, then store in an airtight container and refrigerate.
14. Stage
If cream cheese frosting has been chilled, place in the large bowl of stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat on medium-high speed until smooth and pliable, about 30 seconds.
15. Stage
Transfer 1 1/2 cups frosting to a piping bag fitted with a 1" round tip. Set remaining frosting aside.
16. Stage
If caramel sauce is cold and stiff, heat in the microwave in 15-second increments until smooth and pourable.
17. Stage
Using a serrated knife, level tops of cooled cakes. Discard (or eat!) trimmings.
18. Stage
Place 1 cake layer on a platter. Spread top with an even layer of frosting (about 3/4 cup). Pipe a ring of frosting around edge of cake, then pipe another ring of frosting directly on top of that ring, creating a tall dam to hold the fillings in. Fill with 1 cup apple filling. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup crumble. Drizzle crumble with 2 tablespoons caramel.
19. Stage
Place another cake layer on top. Spread top with an even layer of frosting. Pipe a double-stacked ring of frosting around edge of second layer as before. Fill with 1 cup apple filling, 1/2 cup crumble, and 2 tablespoons caramel. Place third cake layer on top smooth side up.
20. Stage
Frost top and sides of cake with a thin coat of frosting, then refrigerate at least 2 hours or up to overnight. Refrigerate remaining frosting.
21. Stage
When ready to finish, stir remaining frosting until smooth and pliable. Apply a clean layer of frosting over crumb coat. Drizzle with remaining 1/2 cup caramel, then top with remaining crumble.