If you’re looking for a show stopping cake but don’t like to frost cakes, this naked cake is for you! Caramel Apple Butter Layer Cake with Whipped Caramel Cream Cheese Filling and Caramel Apple Walnut Topping will impress your family and friends at your next get together.
Does it feel like fall where you live? Now that it’s after Labor Day, mentally I’m ready. I’m ready to drink pumpkin spice lattes and eat the apples I picked this past Sunday. However, it’s still too darn hot outside; it’s been almost in the 90s last week and most of this week! I decided even though it feels like summer outside, I’m going to make it feel like fall in my kitchen. Take that, Mother Nature! What better way to welcome fall than with a show stopping Caramel Apple Butter Layer Cake? This isn’t your typical frosted 2 layer cake. It’s a 4 layer naked cake, which means the outside of the cake isn’t covered in frosting (hence the name). Instead, it has a filling-like frosting that holds the cake layers together. I personally find them more stunning than a regular frosted cake (probably because I’m still working on my cake decorating skills). Since caramel goes so well with apple butter, I made a whipped caramel cream cheese filling (think whipped cream meets cream cheese frosting) then topped it with caramelized apples and walnuts. If that doesn’t scream fall to you, I’m not sure what will.
The key ingredient to this caramel apple butter layer cake is Musselman’s apple butter. When I mention apple butter to friends, a lot of them still ask me what it is. I grew up with it, so it’s hard to believe others still haven’t tried it yet. Apple butter is a highly concentrated form of apple sauce where the apples are cooked until the sugar in the apples caramelize, usually a few hours. Most people spread it on toast for breakfast, but it’s also versatile enough to use in recipes. Since I didn’t have a few hours to make apple butter in order to make this layer cake, I chose Musselman’s to make this cake easier.
My favorite part of the cake is the whipped caramel cream cheese filling because of its fluffy and creamy contrast to the cake; it’s not a heavy buttercream frosting. Plus it’s caramel. I don’t think I’ve ever turned down a caramel anything dessert.
If you’re nervous about cutting the cake layers in half, don’t be! As long as you use 8 inch, 1 1/2 inch deep round cake pans, the cake layers will be thick enough (which means don’t use anything smaller or the batter will overflow). Here’s an online guide on how to cut a cake horizontally. If you’re still unsure about cutting the cake, you can leave them whole and make a 2 layer cake.
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Caramel Apple Butter Layer Cake
Yield: 12
Prep Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours 5 minutes
The cake and filling can be made up to 2 days before serving to help divide up the prep time.
Ingredients
Cake
- 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 2 eggs, room temperature
- 1 1/2 cups Musselman's Apple Butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup whole milk, room temperature
- 1 cup chopped walnuts
Filling
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
- 8 ounces full-fat cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- Pinch of salt
- 1/2 cup caramel sauce (homemade or store bought)
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
Topping
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 large apple, cored, peeled, and thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
- 1/4 cup caramel sauce (homemade or store bought)
Instructions
- For the cake: Preheat oven to 350F. Line the bottom of two 8-inch round cake pans (1 1/2 inches deep) with parchment paper then lightly grease with cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat together on medium speed the oil, sugar, and brown sugar until combined. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, until smooth. Beat in the apple butter and vanilla. Add the flour mixture alternately with the milk, adding the flour in 3 additions and the milk in 2 additions (begin and end with dry ingredients). Add the walnuts.
- Divide the batter between the two cake pans and bake 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 15 minutes then invert the cake pans. Cool completely on a wire rack.
- For the filling: In a large mixing bowl (with whisk attachment if using stand mixer), beat the heavy cream until it thickens and stiff peaks form, roughly 3-4 minutes (when you pull the beaters up, peaks will form and not fall over). Transfer to another bowl and keep cold in the refrigerator.
- In the same mixing bowl (no need to clean bowl - switch to paddle if using stand mixer), beat together the cream cheese, sugar, and salt until smooth and creamy, about 2-3 minutes. Beat in the caramel and vanilla. Scrape down the bowl as necessary.
- Fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture until fully incorporated. Refrigerate until ready to assemble.
- Cut each cake layer horizontally into two layers for a total of four layers. Place one layer, cut side up, on a serving plate or stand. Spread one third of the filling on top. Place another layer, cut side down, on top. Repeat with the remaining filling and layers. Right before serving, garnish with caramel apple topping.
- Make the topping right before serving: In a large skillet, melt the butter. Once hot, add the apples and walnuts. Cook for 5 minutes or until the apples start to soften. Add the caramel sauce and stir. Remove from the heat and cool 15 minutes before garnishing cake.
More Apple Butter Recipes
Apple Butter Crumb Cake
Apple Butter Baked Doughnut Holes
Apple Butter Cream Cheese Danishes
Apple Butter French Toast Roll Ups
No Bake Caramel Swirl Apple Butter Cheesecake
Snickerdoodle Bars with Apple Butter Frosting
Disclosure: This post is part of an ongoing paid ambassadorship with Musselman’s. Thank you for supporting me and the companies I work with as sponsored posts help pay for the costs of running Chocolate Moosey, including website hosting and groceries for recipe development.
cheryl illinois says
Cake looks delicious but a little complicated for me. I was never too good at layer cakes. Did you know that Wilton makes a little wire thing for easily cutting a layer into 2 layers? Also I love your wooden cake plate. Have never seen a wooden before.
Carla says
I admit it does take some time to assemble, but if you break it up over a few days (make the cake the night before and even the filling ahead of time), it makes the process easier. This recipe will also work with just two layers if you don’t want to cut them in half (you might not need as much filling in that case). The wooden cake stand I actually got at a thrift store! I knew I had to have it.
Taylor @ Food Faith Fitness says
Caramel, Apple Butter AND CAKE all in one? Like, that kind of deliciousness actually exists on the planet earth?! This cake is not only gorgeous, but sounds amazing! I need to get my hands on some apple butter so I can make this! Pinned!
Carla says
Yes – all the flavors of fall in one bite! Thanks Taylor!
June @ How to Philosophize with Cake says
This cake certainly does look show-stopping! Love the use of apple butter in the cake, I’m sure it adds a lovely flavor :)
Carla says
Yes the apple butter adds both flavor and moistness so the cake isn’t dry at all. Thanks June!
Thalia @ butter and brioche says
Isn’t this just the perfect cake for Fall!
Carla says
It sure is! Thanks Thalia
Jennie @onesweetmess says
OMG, yes! No, it doesn’t feel like fall, but I’m ready–so, very ready. Girl, this cake is stunning!
Carla says
Me too. Now that it’s past Labor Day, bring on the chilly weather and falling leaves. Thanks, Jennie!
Joan Hayes says
Oh. My. God. This cake looks so unbelievably amazing, I can hardly stand it!! I love the naked cake look, and how beautiful the top looks! Seriously excited to make this one, it’s gonna happen immediately! :)
Carla says
Thanks, Joan! Hope you enjoy when you do :)