If you love warm fall spice flavors, this Caramel Apple Poke Cake is about to become your new favorite dessert recipe. Moist yellow cake is soaked with a rich caramel and spice flavored sweetened condensed milk mixture, and topped with a layer of apple pie filling and finished with a rich, homemade brown sugar caramel frosting. Every bite tastes like caramel apples, apple pie, and buttery cake all wrapped into one irresistible fall dessert.
Made with boxed cake mix for convenience, this easy poke cake is perfect for potlucks, holiday dinners, family gatherings, or anytime you are craving a comforting apple dessert.
Along with German Apple Cake and Easy Apple Dumplings, it is always at the top of my fall baking list.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Yellow Cake Mix, plus ingredients listed on the box
- Sweetened condensed milk
- Caramel Ice Cream Topping
- Ground cinnamon and ground nutmeg
- Apple Pie Filling
Brown Sugar Frosting
- Butter
- Light Brown Sugar
- Heavy Cream
- Vanilla Extract
- Powdered Sugar
How To Make Caramel Apple Poke Cake
(More detailed instructions in recipe card below.)
- Bake cake according to package directions in a greased 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Let it cool 10 to 15 minutes.
- Whisk together the sweetened condensed milk, caramel topping, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- Poke holes all over the warm cake using the handle of a wooden spoon.
- Slowly pour the caramel milk mixture over the cake, allowing it to soak into the holes.
- Chop the apples in the apple pie filling into smaller pieces and spread the apple pie filling evenly over the cake.
- Make frosting by simmering the butter, brown sugar, and heavy cream until smooth. Cool slightly before beating in the vanilla and powdered sugar.
- Spread the frosting over the apple layer.
- Refrigerate until well chilled before serving.
What To Serve with Caramel Apple Spice Cake?
This dessert is delicious on its own, but it’s even more delicious with:
- Vanilla ice cream
- Fresh whipped cream
- Apple cider
Recipe Tips
- Chill for at least 2 hours before serving to let the flavors meld together.
Variations
- Add nuts. Sprinkle chopped toasted pecans or walnuts over the frosting.
- Change the cake mix. Use spice cake mix instead of yellow cake mix for an even warmer fall flavor.
- Add more spices. Add a pinch of cloves or apple pie spice to the filling.
Storage
Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 4 days.
This Caramel Apple Poke Cake is everything you love about fall in one easy dessert. Perfect for Thanksgiving, church suppers, or autumn celebrations.
More Amazing Fall Desserts
- Apple Cider Bundt Cake
- Sweet Potato Layer Cake
- Southern Sweet Potato Pie
- Butterscotch Pumpkin Trifle
- Pumpkin Caramel Poke Cake
Caramel Apple Poke Cake
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 box yellow cake mix, plus ingredients on box
- 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
- 2 tablespoons caramel ice cream topping
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 (20-ounce) can apple pie filling
Frosting
- 10 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1/3 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. Prepare cake according to packaged directions in prepared baking dish. Let cool 10-15 minutes.
- In a bowl, whisk together sweetened condensed milk, caramel sauce, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- Using the end of a wooden spoon, poke holes in the top of the cake.
- Pour sweetened condensed milk on top of cake.
- Chop up the apples in the apple pie filling into small pieces. Spread apple pie filling evenly on top of cake.
- To make frosting, place butter, brown sugar, and heavy cream in a medium saucepan. Place over medium high heat. Stir mixture until smooth. Simmer for 3 minutes and then pour into a mixing bowl. Let cool 15 minutes.
- Add vanilla extract and 1 cup powdered sugar to mixing bowl. Use electric mixer to beat until smooth. Add remaining powdered sugar and beat until smooth.
- Spread frosting on cake. Cover an refrigerate until ready to serve.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
