This apple bundt bake is the ultimate fall dessert and is served with a luscious Kentucky bourbon caramel glaze on top. This uses unpeeled grated unpeeled Granny Smith apples inside and is oven-baked in a greased bundt pan for one hour. Recipe yields 22 slices.
Heather's Love for Luscious Bourbon Caramel & Apple Dessert
If you know me personally, I LOVE SUMMER and mourn when it is officially summer. All those out there eating pumpkin loaf in August are not my people. But when October 1st hits, I relent and say goodbye to summer (possibly with a slice of apple pie 😉 ).
I may be a bit dramatic when it comes to the season changing, but I am not dramatic when I say that apple recipes are the quintessential fall smell and flavor. There is nothing better than a warm apple crisp with homemade whipped cream. Yum!! So cozy. So welcoming.
We are taking crisp granny smith apples and grating them into a simple cake batter that only takes 1 bowl and a whisk to make! Baked in the oven in a cute bundt pan then a luscious bourbon caramel glaze poured over the top when it's still warm. And being a Southern cook from Kentucky - we know our bourbon here! let me show you how I like to make this for my friends and family.
Welcome to my kitchen, let us do some fall baking!
⭐️Apple Prep Tips ⭐️The first bit of good news. No peeling of the apples is required! Bless! No one has time for that - and after multiple recipe tests - I found it didn't really make a difference anyway! We do want these apples finely grated though, and I find using a food processor the easiest way to do so, but you can also use a cheese grater and do it by hand. Just quarter your apples and cut out the core - then proceed with either the food processor or grating by hand. Place in the food processor with the grater attachments and whiz away. You’re going to need 4 cups of grated apples - which is 3-4 apples depending on how big yours are. Maybe 5 if they are pretty small.
🍏Why use granny smith apples? 🍏 Any time my mom baked with apples growing up, she always used Granny Smith. It is because they hold up when baking. They do not become mush or disintegrate into whatever dish you're making but hold their shape, and taste, and their distinct tart flavor stands out and compliments any sweet dessert. I recommend using only Granny Smith apples in this recipe.
While That is Baking, Make the Bourbon Caramel Glaze
Once the cake has cooled, pour the caramel sauce over top, slice, and enjoy! You can enjoy this slightly warm, room temp, or even if you store the leftovers in the fridge - having it cold with a cup of warm coffee is delicious! That sticky sweet caramel and soft apple cake will be sure to have you coming back for more!
⭐️Recipe swap! If you want a fun twist on this recipe that is similar but elevated - skip. this bourbon caramel sauce is included and drizzle 10-minute Bourbon praline sauce on top!
Recipe
Apple Bundt Cake with Bourbon Caramel Glaze
- Total Time: 110 minutes
- Yield: 22 slices 1x
Description
This apple bundt bake is the ultimate fall dessert and is served with a luscious Kentucky bourbon caramel glaze on top. This uses unpeeled grated unpeeled Granny Smith apples inside and is oven-baked in a greased bundt pan for one hour. Recipe yields 22 slices.
Ingredients
Apple Cake
- 1 ½ Cups Oil (I prefer melted coconut oil)
- 2 Cups Sugar
- 2 Eggs
- 2 Tablespoons Vanilla
- 1 Teaspoon Salt
- 1 Teaspoon Baking Soda
- 1 Teaspoon Cinnamon
- 3 Cups Flour
- 4 Cups Grated Apples (about 3 -4 apples)
Bourbon Caramel Glaze
- 1 Stick Butter
- 2 Tablespoons Heavy Cream
- ½ Cup Brown Sugar
- ½ Teaspoon Vanilla
- 1 Tablespoon Bourbon
Instructions
Apple Cake
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a large bowl, add oil, sugar, eggs, salt, baking soda, vanilla, and cinnamon. Whisk well until everything is combined.
- To grate the apples, core and add to a food processor with the grater attachment. You can also do this by hand with a cheese grater. Peeling the apples isn't necessary.
- Add in 1 cup of flour and mix until combined. Add in half of the apples and mix until combined. Add another cup of flour and mix. Finally, add in the last of the apples, mix, and then the last cup of flour. The batter will be thick.
- Pour batter into a well-greased bundt pan and place in the oven. Bake for 1 hour.
- Remove from the oven and insert a toothpick into the center. If it comes out clean then the cake is finished. Let cool for 10 minutes in the pan then remove and let finish cooling on a baking rack.
Bourbon Caramel Sauce
- While the cake is baking, in a medium saucepan, add all ingredients and bring to a boil over medium heat. Stir every so often to make sure it doesn't burn.
- When the mixture comes to a boil, set a timer for 5 minutes and whisk continuously.
- Remove from the heat once the timer is up and pour into a bowl. Set aside to cool until needed.
- Once the apple cake is cooled, pour the bourbon caramel sauce onto the top, slice and enjoy!
Notes
- If you prefer not to add Bourbon to your glaze, omit it entirely. Add in 1 Tablespoon of Vanilla total and cook according to the instructions above.
- If the caramel has separated (butter around the edges) while it sits, place it in the microwave for 30 seconds and whisk until it comes back together.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 90 minutes
- Category: Cake
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 346
- Sugar: 24.4 g
- Sodium: 172.1 mg
- Fat: 20.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 38.5 g
- Fiber: 1.2 g
- Protein: 2.5 g
- Cholesterol: 29.5 mg
Becky says
How far in advance can this be baked? I'd add the sauce before serving
Heather Bilyeu says
You can bake the day before serving. Keep wrapped airtight in the fridge. Then pour on the sauce before serving - hope this helps!