Moist Caramel Apple Cake

By Addie

Inspired by a childhood favorite, this recipe reinvents the caramel apple as a cake, with fresh, tangy chopped apples baked into a treat that’s a whole lot easier to eat.

Ingredients

• 1 package (2-layer size) yellow cake mix
• 1 package (3.4 oz.) JELL-O Vanilla or French Vanilla Flavor Instant Pudding
• 1 cup water
• 4 eggs
• 1/3 cup oil
• 3 Granny Smith apples (1 lb.) peeled, coarsely chopped
• 20 KRAFT Caramels
• 3 Tbsp. milk

Preparation

Step 1

HEAT oven to 350ºF.

BEAT first 5 ingredients in large bowl with mixer until well blended. Stir in apples. Pour into greased and floured 12-cup fluted tube pan or 10-inch tube pan.

BAKE 50 min. to 1 hour or until toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool cake in pan 15 min. Loosen cake from side of pan; invert onto wire rack. Gently remove pan. Cool cake completely. Transfer to plate.

MICROWAVE caramels and milk in microwaveable bowl on HIGH 1-1/2 min. or until caramels are completely melted and sauce is smooth, stirring every 30 sec. Cool 10 min. or until slightly thickened. Drizzle over cake.
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Kraft Kitchens Tips:

Do not use cake mix with pudding in the mix. To avoid soggy cake, drizzle caramel sauce over cake just before serving.


Serve topped with thawed COOL WHIP Whipped Topping or vanilla ice cream.
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REVIEWS: (668)

If you want to impress your company, or just reward your family, and show them how much you love them...... make this cake.. It is simply WONDERFUL !!!!!!!!!!! You will make it year after year at apple season. And if you forget how good it is, I am sure your family will remind you......enjoy.

Too much topping. I want half the amount of caramels and milk, unless using a 13x9" pan. Cake got rave reviews.

EXCELLENT!!!!!

This cake was wonderful. The only problem I had was I didn't cut my apples into small enough pieces and it kind of made it tough to get a nice cut. It still tasted good. I used the carmel for dipping that is found in the fruit section. Worked just fine.

May I say WOW! I made this with a few substitutions. Instead of yellow cake mix I used white cake mix and coconut custard Instant pudding instead of vanilla. It turn out delicious and everybody ate up to the last crumb,and some had seconds. I added cinnamon, walnuts, and vanilla extract. For the grand finale took the hint from other reviews and used the caramel topping that's meant for ice cream. My personal thought is that is so wonderful it really doesn't need the caramel.

This cake was so easy to make- I am not an advanced either, I still consider myself a beginner at cooking/ baking! It tasted fabulous! I got so many compliments on how tasty it was, that I made it a second time a week later for another gathering! I love it! Definitely a keeper!

Love this recipe! I vary it by using spice cake mix instead and it tastes like fall in a cake :)

I have made this every fall for the past 3 years. I look forward to it each coming fall! My whole family loves it! Even the 3 children who normally only enjoy cake that has traditional icing. I use golden apples instead of granny smith and I also add a little cinnamon. Great recipe!!!

I've made this a few times in the past & they came out really nice, just a little too moist for me. HOWEVER, just made this a few hours ago and it was PERFECT! I used all BUT a tablespoon of the Jell-o instant pudding mix when making the batter. Made this today for my little brother's bday. I use the Caramel syrup in a bottle (from the icecream sundae aisle) and either glaze the cake with it or let everyone just add as little or as much as he/she prefer on his/her own piece :). LOVE this cake!

My mother-in-law asks for this cake every year for her birthday. It is wonderful.

Very yummy and moist! Made it for a family gathering and it went over very well.

This has to be one of the best cakes I've ever had and I don't really care for apples. My entire family thoroughly enjoyed it, even those that don't normally eat cake! The combination of the apples, caramel, and moist cake is absolutely superb! This one's a keeper.

This is so good, we have made it a few times. I think I will try putting the cinnamon and nutmeg it next time.

This was the most moist cake. It was so yummy and I got so many compliments. I spiced up the apples with cinnamon and brown sugar before adding to the cake. I made 2 mini bunt cakes and I toasted walnuts and sprinkled it over the caramel on one.

This cake is so good!! It is incredibly moist and delicious. I served with French Vanilla Cool-whip, big hit with my family!

This was good, but the cake needs a little something, not sure what. But loved the caramel topping. Perhaps I'll try a little cinnamon in the batter as one viewer suggested. Will try again.

After reading the reviews, I decided to use a 13 x 9 cake pan, "Spice" cake mix,French Vanilla pudding, chopped the apples fine and topped the cooled cake with powdered sugar drizzled w/Caramel Ice Cream Topping. It was AWESOME!

We made this for Thanksgiving one year and everyone loved it. We sprinkled chopped walnuts over the top.

This was a big hit with the crowd at a fall party. My kids are begging me to make it again. I think I'll add a little cinnamon and nutmeg to the batter next time.

I too added the cinnamon and nutmeg and it was so yummy. I would actually double the amount of caramel to put on next time.

This cake was so moist.. Caramel topping was too messy & sticky. Would not use that next time. Doesn't need anything really. Made cake on Sunday, gone Monday!!

One of my new favorite dessert recipes! I added cinnamon and used sugar-free/fat-free pudding and it was wonderful! I bought pre-made caramel topping, but didn't even use it---doesn't need it!

Wonderful, very moist, I will make this cake again, added cinnamon & nutmeg to the apples, also grated apples. Love this cake.

I discovered this dessert when it first came out. I was desperate for a last minute, quick and easy dessert and I found this. It was an absolute home run!!! Very easy and just yummy!! I have made it several times since and it never disappoints.

Everyone loved this cake. Even the die hard chocolate cake lovers. I made it for my grandson's graduation and it was the first dessert to go.

This turned out so moist and yummy tasting. However because I could not find a spice cake mix at the store I had to go with the yellow and even after all was said and done including cinnamon and nutmeg and raisins added it still tasted like a vanilla cake. It's good but won't make it again until I can find the spice cake mix. Thanks for the recipe always fun to try new things.

This a great cake,I used caramel ice cream topping instead of caramels. It was neater.

Friends and family love this cake. I grated my apples, but added another twist to it, apples, cinnamon, nutmeg into another bowl until batter is ready, than added the rest and bake for an hour.