Maple Apple Skillet Cake

Baking in a cast-iron skillet is one of my favorite methods for making rustic cakes and this Maple Apple Skillet Cake is definitely rustic. Serve this beauty right out of the skillet for a fun presentation.

First Published: February 21, 2018. Last Updated: July 22, 2019

Before we start let’s talk about fall. I’m just glad it has officially arrived, anyone with me on this?   I’m done with 100-degree heat,  I want to turn my oven on and bake something so my kitchen smells like fall. And using an iron skillet is the perfect way to bake cakes like this maple cake or try this Easy Vanilla Skillet Cake.

Don’t get me wrong, I love all the seasons but the smells of apples, cinnamon, brown sugar, and all those good things that say fall is what I am craving right now and this apple cake has all those glorious flavors.

Don’t have a cast-iron skillet?  No problem!  Use an 8″ cake pan and you will still get a perfectly moist and yummy cake.

Other iron skillet desserts

• Brownies
• Cornbread
• A Giant Chocolate Chip Cookie
• Cobblers
• Upside Down Cakes
• Pies

What kind of apple to use

Now that we’ve covered skillets, let’s talk apples.  I’m curious, what are your favorite apples to bake with? When I bake with apples I usually mix sweet and tart together because I like the contrasting flavors. For this cake, I used Gravensteins, which are really tart, and Pink lady for their sweet aromatic flavor.  Together they have a great balance.

Gravenstein apples are unique and have a short season, so you can only get them for a couple of months.  I had my first Gravenstein in Sebastopol, California.  Unfortunately (for us apple lovers anyway), the Gravenstein orchards are being taken over by vineyards (wine lovers rejoice!).   You won’t find these apples in a store since they don’t travel well, so when I find this variety at the farmer’s market or a roadside stand I have to buy a big bag.

If you can’t find Gravenstein apples near you, try another tart apple variety in this cake.  Granny Smiths or Cameo apples work particularly well.

There is so much to like about this cake.  First off, it tastes fabulous. It’s tender, mildly sweet, and topped with fresh apples that have the perfect hint of cinnamon and nutmeg.  All those wonderful fall flavors!

Ingredients you need

• Apples
• Maple Syrup
• Brown Sugar
• Cinnamon
• Nutmeg
• Salt
• Flour
• Baking Powder
• Egg
• Milk
• Butter

How to make a skillet apple cake

Step 1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees F. and butter an 8″ skillet or an 8″ cake pan

Step 2. Core and slice the apple. Leave the peel on the apples for the pretty color and slice fairly thin

Step 3. Add the brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and maple syrup to the apples and mix together

Step 4. In a medium-sized bowl add the flour, baking powder, and salt

Step 5. In a small bowl mix together the milk,  melted butter, beaten egg, and maple syrup, then pour this mixture into the flour mixture.  Stir until the mixture forms a thick batter

Step 6. Pour the cake batter into the prepared skillet then lay the apples on top of the batter in a circular pattern, starting at the outside and moving to the center.

Step 7. Spoon 1-2 tablespoons of the syrup in the bottom of the bowl on top of the apples

Step 8. Bake the cake for 40 – 45 minutes. Let cool, slice, and enjoy!

I love how the apples bake into the batter and the apples with the peels add color to the cake

 

More One Hot Oven apple recipes

Try this tender  Oatmeal Bread with Apple Cider deliciously flavored with cinnamon and cloves

Another iron skillet favorite is this Cheesy Veggie Cornbread that’s perfect with a bowl of chili

This Cranberry Bread recipe is another fall favorite, it’s moist and scented with orange

These tender Chai Shortbreads are filled with great warming spices with a sweet Chai icing

Perfect with a hot cup of tea, these Jammy Thumbprint Cookies are filled with apricot jam

This Upside Down Cake with Apricots & Cherries has a moist vanilla cake topped with caramelized apricots and cherries. It is amazing.

Baking ingredients and a skillet

Do you need a cast-iron skillet?  This Lodge 8' iron skillet is my favorite.  I love the size and use it for baking and frying with great results. Also, using pure maple syrup adds the perfect flavor to this cake. This syrup has a light caramel flavor that’s not too sweet.

If you do invest in a cast iron, I have a handy guide on how to season your new skillet so it cooks perfectly.

Don’t forget to pin for later when you have a cake craving ~

So get those ovens turned on!  Summer has gone on long enough.  It’s time to get your kitchen smelling like fall again and this skillet cake recipe will make that happen.

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  Thank you for stopping by the One Hot Oven blog.  Please leave a comment to say Hello or just let me know what you are baking these days, I always love hearing from fellow bakers. Have any questions or just want to chat about the recipe? Contact me here, and I’ll be happy to help!

About Jere’

From learning to cook on a farm in Indiana to culinary school in California, my passion for food is never-ending.  Turning on my oven to bake something for friends and family is my happy place, and I am glad to be here at One Hot Oven sharing both sweet and savory recipes with all my baking friends.