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.
Maple Apple Skillet Cake
Equipment
- 8" Lodge Cast Iron Skillet
Ingredients
Apple Ingredients
- 3-4 medium sized apples, sliced If your apples are large 2 will cover the batter
- 3 tbs. maple syrup
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp. nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp. salt
Cake Ingredients
- 1 1/3 cups AP flour
- 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 2/3 cup milk
- 6 tbls. melted butter
- 3 tbls. maple syrup
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter an 8" iron skillet or an 8" cake pan.
Preparing the Apples
- Core and slice the apples and place in a medium-sized bowl. Slice the apples on the thinner side.
- Add the brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt and maple syrup to the apples, stir to combine.
Making the Cake
- Place the flour, baking powered and salt in a medium-sized bowl, stir to combine.
- Combine the warm milk, melted butter, beaten egg, and maple syrup then add to the flour mixture. Stir to combine and pour into the prepared skillet or pan.
- Lay the apples on top of the cake batter in a circular pattern. Depending on the size of your apples if you have some that do not fit in the skillet, freeze for later.
- If there is syrup in the bottom of the bowl you can spoon some of it on top of the apples, 1 - 2 tablespoons.
- Bake the cake for about 45-50 minutes until it is browned on top and a cake tester comes out clean from the batter.
- Let cool then slice and serve from the skillet or pan.
Notes
Nutrition
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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.
Sharon K
Just made this tonight… absolutely delicious. So buttery, so moist. Followed the recipe exactly, while adding 1 tsp vanilla extract. If I wanted to make this in a 10-inch skillet, do you think I would 1.5 times or double the ingredients? Thank you! Can’t wait to make this again.
Jere Cassidy
That’s a great question and I think I will make this cake in a 10-inch skillet and see exactly what it takes. I am inclined to say to increase the ingredients by 1.5. Usually, for an 8″ cake pan you want about 24 ounces of batter and for a 10″ cake pan you want about 35 ounces of batter. I will update this with the results. Thanks for asking.
Jori
I’ve never tried baking in a cast iron skillet and this looks like a great one to try. That cake looks super fluffy and yummy.
Sherri
I agree that fall definitely has the best flavors. And even though I don’t prefer cold weather, I do love baking and cooking on chilly fall days and nights. This cake looks so perfect and those apples on top are absolutely heavenly! Gorgeous!
Jere Cassidy
Thanks for the kind comments. The apples are scrumptious.
Danielle
I agree, this would be so perfect with some French Vanilla ice cream and tea! Looks so tasty!
Ben Myhre
A skillet cake… huh, What a great idea and it helps that it looks so dang tasty.
Chef Mireille
I love cooking and bacon in a cast iron skillet. Cornbread never tastes the same unless made in a cast iron!
Stephanie Simmons
Oh my gosh – this looks so perfect! Now I know what to do with this HUGE pile of apples we have left from apple picking!
Catherine Brown
Skillet cakes are fantastic! I haven’t made one in a while and we still have lots of apples from our apple picking excursion, so this is excellent timing!
Chef and Steward
This is gorgeous and practical, great for tea time and so seasonal! Really love this idea. Will be bookmarking to do soon!,
Mirlene
So glad fall is here and we can finally enjoy these delicious apples and cinnamon flavors. this would be a perfect recipe for Thanksgiving. Thanks for sharing!
Karyl Henry
Oh this skillet cake looks divine! I usually only buy apples to eat, but this is inspiring me to break out my skillet and make this skillet cake. I’m saving this one for sure
Adriana Lopez Martin
Wow, I just got a gift of an iron skillet that was sent by a friend, and I have not used it just yet. I need to make this recipe of yours looks very simple and so good besides I love apples too!
Amanda
I’m ready for fall baking, and this looks so good! I love anything in a cast iron skillet. It’s so festive. Looking forward to trying this!
Michelle
Could this be any more perfect for the fall?? I love it and will have to try it
Gloria
This dessert is calling my name. I LOVE apple season, and cooking in cast iron. I usually have to make 2 desserts for Thanksgiving. This looks like the alternative to pumpkin pie!!
Stine Mari
That cake looks so fluffy and delicious – I’d love a slice right now. I usually just use apples from gardens from friends, so I don’t know what kind they are. But I love to use one sweet kind and one tart, I think that they complement each other wonderfully.
Kelly Anthony
I can’t wait to make this and fill my home with the smells of apples and cinnamon. This cake is beautiful and will be perfect to share with family and friends.
Deryn
I’ve never baked in a skillet but it sounds wonderful. I wonder if the cake would work with a flax or chia seed egg? Sounds delicious!
Claudia Lamascolo
what a perfect fall cake and in a skillet that is brilliant I bet this is comfort cake with all those apples and maple
Jere Cassidy
It is a comforting cake recipe. I have made twice already.
Jacqueline Debono
I love autumn flavours too and apples are my favourite autumn dessert fruit! This cake looks divine and seems easy to make. Def want to try it!
Jere Cassidy
Hope you try the cake. It is good!
Sara | Belly Rumbles
I have never thought of baking in a skillet before, that is such a brilliant idea. I do love the idea of serving straight from it on to the table. your apple skillet cake looks sensational!
Natalie
I love apple cakes! This one looks so delicious and the combination with maple is simply perfect for Fall!
Jere Cassidy
I love apples and maple and these two ingredients are great together in this cake.
Jillian
Fall has my favorite flavors – apples, pumpkin and cinnamon! So this apple cake is definitely a fall favorite!