Caramel Apple Cake with Cinnamon Whipped Frosting

Welcome Fall!  We are happy to see you, especially if it means we get to eat desserts like this!  I would highly recommend working in this delicious treat to your Fall menu this month.  The cake is moist and yummy by itself, but add the cinnamon whipped cream cheese and top with caramel sauce - it melts in your mouth!  I put the assembled cake in the fridge without the sauce until we were ready to eat.  The slightly warm caramel drizzled all over put the finishing touch on this decadent dessert that is definitely worth sharing with friends.  

• Apple Cake:
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup oil
• 2 eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 3 cups flour
• 1 tsp soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 1/2+ tsp cinnamon
• a pinch of ground nutmeg
• a pinch of ground cloves
• 3 cups fresh chopped apples


Caramel topping:
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/4 cup evaporated milk


Cinnamon Whipped Frosting:
• 6oz cream cheese, softened
• 4 tsp cinnamon
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 12oz whipping cream
• 1 tsp vanilla
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• Apple Cake:
• Prep two 8" round cake pans with non-stick spray 
• In the bowl of an electric mixer, blend together the sugar, oil, eggs and vanilla.
• Add in the flour, soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves and mix until combined
• Fold in chopped apples.
• Divide batter evenly between two pans and bake at 300F for 55-60 minutes. 
• When the cakes are finished baking, allow them to cool for 10 minutes, then remove from pans and let them cool completely on a cooling rack.
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• Cinnamon Whipped Frosting:
• Stir together the softened cream cheese, cinnamon and powdered sugar until well combined.
• Beat the whipping cream and vanilla until medium peaks form.
• Scoop one-third of the whipped cream into the cream cheese mix and gently fold together until well combined.
• Add the the rest of the whipped cream to the cinnamon whipped cream cheese mix and gently fold until well combined.

• Caramel Topping:
• In a small pan over medium-low heat, melt the butter.
• Add both sugars and stir until dissolved.
• Add in the evaporated milk.
• Bring to a boil and cook for 1 minute, stirring frequently.
• Let it cool slightly before drizzling over cake.

• To assemble:
• Layer the apple cakes with the cinnamon whipped frosting. Pour the cooled caramel topping over the top.

Adapted from this recipe