Easy Apple Dapple Cake with Caramel Glaze

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If you’re looking for a show-stopping dessert that’s rich, moist, and bursting with warm flavors, this Apple Dapple Cake is a must try!

Also known as Apple Pecan Cake, this old-fashioned favorite is packed with chunks of fresh apples and crunchy pecans, creating the perfect balance of texture and flavor.

But the real magic happens when it’s topped with a decadent caramel glaze that soaks into every bite, making this moist apple cake absolutely irresistible.

A slice of apple cake on a stack of white plates.

This easy apple pecan cake is not just for fall—it’s a crowd-pleaser for holidays, potlucks, and Sunday suppers. Whether you’re serving it with a scoop of ice cream or enjoying a slice with your morning coffee, this caramel-glazed apple cake is pure comfort food!

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Why I love this recipe (and, you will too!)
Cake ingredients
Glaze ingredients
How to make Apple Dapple Cake (aka apple and pecan cake)
Serving and menu suggestions
Recipe variations
How to store and transform leftovers
Recipe FAQs
Top tips to ensure this recipe turns out perfectly
More apple recipes
📋 Recipe:

Why I love this recipe (and, you will too!)

A true classic, this apple pecan bundt cake has been a favorite in Southern kitchens for generations. The combination of tart apples, buttery pecans, and the rich caramel glaze makes every bite of this apple cake unforgettable.
Thanks to the fresh apples and a touch of oil, this cake stays incredibly moist for days—perfect for making ahead.
This apple cake with pecans is easy to make. No fancy techniques required! Just mix, bake, and drizzle with that luscious caramel glaze for a bakery-worthy dessert.
It’s great for leftovers. This cake actually gets better the next day as the flavors meld together. Plus, it freezes beautifully if you want to save some for later.

Cake ingredients

Ingredients for an apple cake including apples, pecans, and flour.

All-purpose flour
Kosher salt and baking soda
Pecans – roasted and chopped
Vegetable oil – you can substitute coconut oil
Granulated sugar
Eggs – room temperature
Vanilla extract
Apples – I love the combination of Honey Crisp and Granny Smith. However, any variety of apple works, so use your favorite or what you have on hand.

Glaze ingredients

Brown sugar
Heavy cream – half-and-half or whole milk can be substituted.
Butter

Complete measurements can be found in the recipe card below.

How to make Apple Dapple Cake (aka apple and pecan cake)

Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Generously spray the bottom and sides of a 12-cup bundt pan or angel food tube cake pan with a baking spray containing flour. Or, grease the pan with a tablespoon of butter or shortening. Then, add a tablespoon of flour to the pan and swirl the flour around. Shake or tap the pan to remove any excess.

Spraying baking spray into a bundt cake pan.

Add the oil, sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract to a large mixing bowl. Then use an electric mixer to combine the ingredients.

Electric mixer beaters in a bowl of oil, sugar, and eggs.

In a smaller bowl add the flour, salt, and baking soda. Mix well with a whisk or fork.

Flour, salt, and baking soda in a bowl with a whisk.

Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and combine using your electric mixer. The batter will be stiff.

Add the apples and pecans to the batter and fold in with a rubber spatula or wooden spoon.

Chopped apples and pecans in a bowl with cake batter.

Spoon the batter into the prepared cake pan and bake in the oven for one hour.

A bundt cake pan full of cake batter with cut up apples.

About ten minutes before the cake is done, make the Caramel Glaze by combining the brown sugar, cream, and butter in a small saucepan over medium heat.

Butter, brown sugar, and cream in a small sauce pan.

After the mixture comes to a boil, lower the heat and simmer for about three minutes.
When the cake is done, remove it from the oven and pour the caramel glaze over it while it is still in the cake pan.

Pouring caramel glaze over an apple cake baked in a bundt pan

Place the cake pan on a cooling rack and allow it to cool completely before removing the cake. To remove it from the pan, take a plate that is a bit larger than the rim of the cake pan, place it on top of the pan, and holding both the plate and the pan, flip it over. The pan should lift right off!

Apple dapple caked topped with caramel glaze on a white cake platter.

Serving and menu suggestions

Apple Dapple Cake is perfect for any occasion: Whether it’s a cozy fall evening, Thanksgiving dessert table, or just a weekend treat, this apple pecan cake is always a hit.

My husband likes it best with a scoop or two of my Bourbon Ice Cream, or Pralines and Cream Ice Cream, but I like to heat up a little extra caramel glaze and drizzle it over my piece of cake for an extra indulgent touch.
Or, for an extra apple boost, lightly sauté some sliced apples in butter, cinnamon, and a touch of brown sugar, then spoon them over a slice of cake.

Recipe variations

You can substitute walnuts, sliced almonds, macadamia nuts, pistachios, or cashews for the pecans in this recipe.
You could also add a handful of dried cranberries or cherries.
Firm pears can be substituted for the apples.
If you want to spice things up a bit, you can also add about a teaspoon of cinnamon or nutmeg to the batter.

How to store and transform leftovers

This Apple Dapple Cake actually gets better the next day as the flavors meld together.

Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container on your kitchen counter at room temperature for up to three days. You can store it in the fridge for up to five days. The caramel glaze may firm up a bit, so let it sit at room temperature before serving.
It also freezes beautifully if you want to save some for later! Wrap individual slices in plastic wrap and store in a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before enjoying.

Here is an idea for transforming your apple pecan cake leftovers: Crumble the cake into a dessert glass and layer it with vanilla pudding, whipped cream, and more caramel for a stunning and delicious apple trifle dessert.

Recipe FAQs

What are the best apples to use for this Apple Dapple Cake?

I recommend using firm, slightly tart apples such as Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Fuji. They hold their shape well and add the perfect balance of sweetness and acidity. Softer apples such Red Delicious may turn mushy during baking.

Can I use a different pan instead of a Bundt pan?

Absolutely! While this recipe is traditionally made in a Bundt pan, you can also bake it in a 9×13-inch cake pan or divide the batter between two loaf pans. Just be sure to adjust the baking time—start checking for doneness around 40-45 minutes for a sheet cake or 50-55 minutes for loaf pans.

Top tips to ensure this recipe turns out perfectly

This apple pecan cake recipe calls for baking the cake in a 12-cup bundt pan or angel food cake pan. You can substitute a 10-cup pan, but be aware that the batter will rise to the top when baking and it will be hard to add the caramel glaze without it running over the sides of the pan. If you use the smaller size, you might want to add half of the glaze, then when the cake is removed from the pan, pour on the other half.
If your pecans are not toasted, place them on a rimmed baking sheet in a preheated 350°F oven and roast for three to four minutes for pieces or eight to ten minutes for pecan halves.
When measuring flour, use the spoon and level measuring method. That is, spoon the flour into a measuring cup, then use a straight side of a knife and level it off before adding it to your recipe.
Non-stick baking spray is made specifically for baking and contains flour. Regular non-stick sprays are not suitable for use in this recipe.

More apple recipes

If you like apples as I do, you might also like these quick and easy recipes!

Here are a few more recipes featuring apples: Apple Pie Filled Cinnamon Rolls, Fish Taco Bowls with Green Apple Guacamole, Crockpot Pork Chops with Apples, and Fall Harvest Salad with Apples.

⭐ ⭐ ⭐⭐⭐ Did you make this recipe for Apple Dapple Cake aka Apple Pecan Cake? I’d be thrilled to hear what you thought! Did you add your own twist or have a tip to share?

Drop a comment below—I read every one—and don’t forget to leave a star rating. Your feedback not only makes my day but also helps others find and perfect this recipe.

Thanks for stopping by Grits and Pinecones! Your visit means the world to me. I hope you’ll swing back soon for more Southern-inspired goodness. 💛

📋 Recipe:

**Special thanks to my friend Mary Carroll for sharing this recipe with me so I could share it with you!

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