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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. Don’t get me wrong, I love all the seasons but the smells of apples, pumpkin, cinnamon, brown sugar and all those good things that say fall is what I am craving right now.
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. 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.
Here are some other desserts to bake in an iron skillet
- 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!
Here’s your list of simple ingredients to make this amazing apple skillet cake for your next dessert –
- Apples
- Maple Syrup
- Brown Sugar
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
- Salt
- Flour
- Baking Powder
- Egg
- Milk
- Butter
How to make a cast iron apple cake. Simply mix your batter, no mixer required, and pour it in the skillet. And the best part, you do not even have to peel the apples! Nope, leave those peels on for some color. Just slice the apples fairly thin and mix with maple syrup, brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg, toss and place on top of the cake batter.
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
- 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, warmed
- 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
“There is so much to love about this Maple Apple Skillet Cake “
Right out of the oven and it looks and smells like cake heaven. I love how the batter bakes up around the apples.
My favorite way to serve this cake is with French Vanilla ice cream and a hot cup of Oolong tea.
See that slice of cake on the plate with that baby scoop of ice cream? Of course, you could also cut yourself a nice big slice of cake and a double scoop of ice cream instead, and then find yourself a nice cozy place and sit and enjoy your cake. After all, fall only comes once a year.
Here’s my favorite Spiced Apple Cider Oatmeal Bread recipe in case you need more baking inspiration.
Here is another One Hot Oven recipe using a cast iron skillet. This Apricot Cherry Upside Down Cake has a moist vanilla cake topped with caramelized apricots and cherries. It is amazing.
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. Pure maple syrup has a light caramel flavor that’s not too sweet and adds just the right flavor to this cake.
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 ~
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.
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!
Thanks for the kind comments. The apples are scrumptious.
I agree, this would be so perfect with some French Vanilla ice cream and tea! Looks so tasty!
A skillet cake… huh, What a great idea and it helps that it looks so dang tasty.
I love cooking and bacon in a cast iron skillet. Cornbread never tastes the same unless made in a cast iron!
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!
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!
This is gorgeous and practical, great for tea time and so seasonal! Really love this idea. Will be bookmarking to do soon!,
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!
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
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!
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!
Could this be any more perfect for the fall?? I love it and will have to try it
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!!
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.
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.
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!
what a perfect fall cake and in a skillet that is brilliant I bet this is comfort cake with all those apples and maple
It is a comforting cake recipe. I have made twice already.
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!
Hope you try the cake. It is good!
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!
I love apple cakes! This one looks so delicious and the combination with maple is simply perfect for Fall!
I love apples and maple and these two ingredients are great together in this cake.
Fall has my favorite flavors – apples, pumpkin and cinnamon! So this apple cake is definitely a fall favorite!