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Microwave Apple Upside Down Cake
Candy

Microwave Apple Upside Down Cake with Salted Maple Caramel

5 from 2 votes
Need a dessert on a moment's notice? This cake has you covered - from start to table in 30 minutes. The spice and apples pair perfectly together and the touch of salt elevates the sweet maple caramel.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Cooling 10 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 8
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 384
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For Cake:
  • 1 box white or yellow cake mix
  • 1 apple peeled, cored, and sliced
  • 1 ¼ cups chunky applesauce
  • ¼ cup apple butter
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • ½ tsp ground ginger
  • ½ tsp ground nutmeg
  • ½ tsp ground cloves
  • 1 Tbs oil
  • 3 Pecans for optional garnish
For Sauce:
  • ½ cup pure maple syrup
  • 2 Tbs cold butter
  • Coarse sea salt for garnish

Equipment

  • Microwave oven
  • 2.5 quart round microwave safe baking dish

Method
 

  1. Brush the inside of a 2.5qt round, microwave safe dish with the oil. It needs to be completely coated, including the sides
  2. Peel, core, and slice the apples to about ¼” thickness
  3. Arrange the apples in a single layer, slightly overlapping, around the edges of the dish until the circle is completed. Place a few halved pecans (upside down) in the center if desired
  4. In a large bowl mix all of the remaining ingredients with an electric mixer for about 2 minutes, the batter will be quite thick
  5. Spoon the batter over the apples evenly and carefully as not to move them, smooth out the batter to make a level top
  6. Microwave covered for 10-11 minutes
  7. While the cake is cooking, make your sauce
  8. In a small saucepan, heat the syrup, stirring occasionally, until small bubbles start to form all around the edges
  9. Add the butter, and stirring continuously, bring the mixture to a boil. Boil for one minute stirring constantly
  10. Remove from heat and let cool about 15 minutes or until it is the consistency of honey
  11. The cake is done when a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean and the cake springs back to the touch. Uncover and let cool on a wire rack in the dish for 10 minutes
  12. Once the cake has cooled, carefully invert onto a serving dish
  13. Just before serving, pour the caramel over the cake, making sure the entire cake is covered
  14. Lightly sprinkle with sea salt

Notes

To bake in a conventional oven, preheat the oven to 375F. Follow the directions as above, except bake on the center rack of the oven for about 30-35 minutes and make your sauce in the last 5 minutes of baking.