This is the time of year where Los Angeles weather is totally erratic. One day it’ll be 90 degrees and then two days later you’l need a sweater and some hot coffee to get your day started. By now, I know which one I get excited about.
I’m currently wearing a sweater so I feel like it’s appropriate to discuss this chai-spiced apple skillet cake with you all. I wanted to provide a recipe that is super easy. Something that you can throw together in a one, two steps max. This skillet cake is it!
It’s baked up in a cast iron skillet. If you don’t have a cast iron (I believe it’s a kitchen must-have), you can definitely bake this in a 9-inch cake pan too.
I’ve been spending a lot of time writing down fall/autumn/Thanksgiving (yes, T-Day) ideas that I can’t wait to make. This was one of the first things I wrote down on the list. When we baked it up, I was like yes yes yes. It is so simple and easy breezy and is beautiful enough where you’d be proud to put it on a dining room table.
One thing that this cake absolutely needs: Vanilla Ice Cream.
I like to put it on top and serve it to a crowd. And then slice it up. Of course, you can slice it up and then give everyone a scoop of ice cream, too. It’s delicious.
This cake is one of the most perfect things to make on a Fall day. Here are some reasons why it’s the best thing ever:
1: Easy clean-up. This isn’t a fussy dessert by any means.
2. So many spices. It instantly will remind you of fall.
3. The sliced apples that are distributed throughout the cake are so tasty. I like to use a honey crisp or Gala apples. Ones that are sort of on the less juicy side.
Ingredients
Apple Topping:
- 4 apples peeled and sliced
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Pinch of salt
Cake:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup white sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/4 ground cardamom
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup shaken buttermilk
- 2 large egg
- 5 tablespoons melted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
To Make the Apple Topping:
- To a medium bowl, add the sliced apples, brown sugar, cinnamon and pinch of salt. Toss it together and set it aside.
To Make the Cake:
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9-inch cast iron skillet and set aside.
- To a large bowl, add the flour, white sugar, baking powder, spices (nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon, black pepper, cardamom) and salt.
- In a 4-cup measuring cup or medium bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, eggs, melted butter and vanilla extract.
- Add the liquid into the dry mixture and mix just until combined; a few lumps in the batter is totally fine. Pour the batter into the prepared skillet and add the apples on top, pushing some of the apples into the batter a bit. If your apples have created any juices, pour those on top.
- Transfer to the oven to bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until a skewer comes out mostly clean (a little crumbs are ok!). Remove from the oven and allow to cool for about 5 to 10 minutes before slicing it up. Serve with ice cream.
Nutrition
could I sub plain nonfat yogurt for buttermilk?
My cake is in the oven and I’m dying to try it! My house smells AMAZING right now
☕️
yayy!
Instant inspiration — making this tonight! 🙂
Thank you for this! Do you think that I could swap pears?
yes! as long as they’re not super watery pears! 🙂
Truth is, I expected a pizookie-like pancake skillet cake with chopped apples inside when clicking on this recipe. BUT. You wowed me again by creating a beautifully spread array of sliced cinnamon-coated apples that have browned so perfectly in the oven with the rest of the batter! The scoops of ice cream apart are SUCH a winning bonus. You can never go wrong with cold and sweet ice cream over warm spiced cake!
hahaha no it’s a little different. i tried to make it on the prettier side 🙂
Oh thank you for this recipe! It’s still so hot and humid here, and I’m dreaming of fall deliciousness! This is st the top of my list for the next cool day…. my cast iron will love to be used!
me too! it was 90 degrees yesterday lol