Caramel Apple Gooey Butter Cake
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Caramel Apple Gooey Butter Cake combines everything people love about fall desserts into one ridiculously easy recipe. A buttery spiced cake layer is topped with creamy apple butter cheesecake filling and finished with warm caramelized apples. If you love apple pie, apple crisp, apple butter, and gooey butter cake, this dessert brings all of those flavors together in one pan.
THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN APPLE PIE AND CHEESECAKE HAVE A BABY.
Every fall I find myself making way too many apple desserts. Apple crisp, apple pie, apple cake, apple butter, you name it.
But this one keeps finding its way back onto my table.
The cake layer is buttery and packed with warm spices. The center stays soft and gooey thanks to the cream cheese and apple butter. Then you finish it with homemade caramelized apples that melt right into every bite.
It’s one of those desserts that makes people stop talking after the first bite.
And if you happen to have vanilla ice cream in the freezer, I highly recommend grabbing it.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy shortcut cake mix base
- Loaded with apple butter flavor
- Rich cream cheese gooey butter layer
- Homemade caramel apple topping
- Perfect fall dessert recipe
- Great for Thanksgiving and holiday gatherings
- Feeds a crowd
- Even better the next day
- No complicated baking techniques required
Ingredients Needed To Make Caramel Apple Gooey Butter Cake
- Yellow Cake Mix: The shortcut ingredient that creates the buttery base of this easy Caramel Apple Gooey Butter Cake.
- Ground Cinnamon: Adds warm fall flavor that pairs perfectly with apples and caramel.
- Ground Allspice: Provides extra depth and cozy spice flavor.
- Unsalted Butter: Helps create the rich, buttery texture gooey butter cakes are known for.
- Apple Butter: Adds concentrated apple flavor throughout both the cake and gooey cream cheese layer.
- Egg: Binds the cake layer together and helps create structure.
- Cream Cheese: Creates the signature gooey butter cake texture that’s rich, creamy, and slightly cheesecake-like.
- Powdered Sugar: Sweetens the filling while helping create a smooth consistency.
- Honeycrisp Apples: My favorite apple for this recipe because they hold their shape while becoming perfectly tender. Fuji, Gala, or Pink Lady apples also work well.
- Granulated Sugar: Melts into a rich caramel coating for the apples.
How To Make Caramel Apple Gooey Butter Cake
Make The Cake Layer
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Butter a 9×13 baking dish.
- Add the cake mix, cinnamon, allspice, melted butter, apple butter, and egg to a large mixing bowl.
- Mix until a thick dough forms.
- Press evenly into the prepared baking dish.
Make The Gooey Layer
- Add cream cheese to a mixing bowl and beat until smooth.
- Mix in the eggs.
- Add powdered sugar and apple butter.
- Beat until completely smooth.
- Pour over the cake layer and spread evenly.
Bake
- Bake for 40-45 minutes.
- The edges should be lightly golden while the center still has a slight jiggle.
- Allow the cake to cool completely.
Make The Caramel Apples
- Add apples, butter, sugar, and cinnamon to a large skillet.
- Cook over medium-low heat for approximately 10 minutes until the apples soften and the sugar creates a caramel sauce.
- Allow to cool slightly.
Assemble
- Spoon the caramel apples over the cooled gooey butter cake.
- Serve chilled, room temperature, or slightly warm with vanilla ice cream.
Best Apples For Caramel Apple Gooey Butter Cake
Honeycrisp apples are my favorite because they hold their shape while providing plenty of sweetness.
Other great options include:
- Pink Lady
- Fuji
- Gala
- Braeburn
- Granny Smith for a more tart flavor
Top Tips For The Best Caramel Apple Gooey Butter Cake
- Use room-temperature cream cheese for the smoothest filling.
- Don’t overbake. The center should still have a slight jiggle when removed from the oven.
- Honeycrisp apples provide the best balance of sweetness and texture.
- Allow the cake to cool completely before adding the caramel apple topping.
- Chill for at least 2 hours if you want cleaner slices.
- Serve with vanilla ice cream for the ultimate fall dessert experience.
Variations
- Use Granny Smith apples for a more tart flavor.
- Add chopped pecans or walnuts.
- Drizzle with caramel sauce before serving.
- Substitute spice cake mix for yellow cake mix.
- Add a sprinkle of sea salt for a salted caramel flavor.
Storing and Freezing
- Store leftover Caramel Apple Gooey Butter Cake tightly covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- For longer storage, freeze individual slices or the entire cake for up to 3 months.
- Allow frozen cake to thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
- The caramel apple topping can also be stored separately and reheated before serving.
Caramel Apple Gooey Butter Cake Recipe
Ingredients
Cake Layer
- 1 package (15.25 ounces) yellow cake mix
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground allspice
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (melted)
- 1/2 cup apple butter
- q egg (room temperature)
Gooey Layer
- 12 oz cream cheese (room temperature)
- 6 cups powdered sugar
- 3 eggs (room temperature)
- 1/2 cup apple butter
Caramel Apple Topping
- 5 cups Honeycrisp apples (peeled, cored, and sliced thin)
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and butter a 9×13 baking dish.
- In a large bowl combine cake mix, cinnamon, allspice, melted butter, apple butter, and egg until a thick dough forms.
- Press evenly into the prepared baking dish.
- In another bowl beat cream cheese until smooth.
- Add eggs and mix well.
- Beat in powdered sugar and apple butter until smooth.
- Pour over cake layer and spread evenly.
- Bake for 40-45 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden and the center still has a slight jiggle.
- Cool completely.
- For the topping, add apples, butter, sugar, and cinnamon to a large skillet over medium-low heat.
- Cook for approximately 10 minutes until apples soften and the mixture becomes caramel-like.
- Allow topping to cool for 20-30 minutes.
- Spoon over the cooled cake.
- Slice and serve.
Notes
- Room-temperature cream cheese creates the smoothest filling.
- Honeycrisp apples provide the best texture and sweetness.
- Allow the cake to cool before adding the caramel apples.
- Chill before slicing for cleaner cuts.
- Serve with vanilla ice cream for the ultimate fall dessert.
Nutrition
Commonly Asked Questions
Yes! This cake is actually even better after it has had a few hours to cool and set. You can bake it a day in advance, cover it tightly, and store it in the refrigerator until you’re ready to serve.
It does! Because the gooey topping contains cream cheese, leftovers should be refrigerated. Store the cake in an airtight container or cover the baking dish tightly with plastic wrap for up to 5 days.
Absolutely. Allow the cake to cool completely before wrapping individual slices or the entire pan tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
Firm baking apples work best because they hold their shape while baking. Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, Pink Lady, Braeburn, and Fuji are all excellent choices. For the best balance of sweet and tart flavor, try using a combination of Honeycrisp and Granny Smith apples.
Yes, you can substitute canned apple pie filling if you’re short on time. Keep in mind that the filling is sweeter and softer than fresh apples, so the finished cake will have a slightly different texture and flavor.
The edges should be lightly golden and set, while the center should still have a slight jiggle. It will continue to firm up as it cools. Avoid overbaking, as the signature gooey texture comes from the soft center.
A soft center is exactly what you want. Gooey butter cake is meant to have a rich, creamy middle rather than a fully set cake texture. As it cools, the filling will continue to thicken while staying deliciously gooey.
Both are delicious! Serve it slightly warm if you want an extra gooey texture, or chill it for a firmer, cheesecake-like consistency. It’s especially delicious warmed slightly and topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Traditional butter cake has a light, fluffy crumb, while gooey butter cake features a rich cake base topped with a creamy, buttery filling that bakes into a soft, custard-like layer. It’s a classic dessert known for its irresistible gooey center and decadent texture.
