Description
This Caramel-Apple Skillet Buckle is a delightful autumn dessert featuring a tender, spiced cake base topped with fresh sliced apples, a buttery pecan-oat crumble, and a luscious drizzle of melted caramel. Baked in a cast-iron skillet, it’s perfect served warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream for a cozy, crowd-pleasing treat.
Ingredients
Units
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Batter Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1-3/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1-1/2 cups buttermilk
Topping Ingredients
- 2/3 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup cold butter
- 3/4 cup finely chopped pecans
- 1/2 cup old-fashioned oats
- 6 cups thinly sliced peeled Gala or other sweet apples (about 6 medium)
Caramel Drizzle
- 18 caramels, unwrapped
- 1 tablespoon buttermilk
Optional Toppings
- Vanilla ice cream
- Whipped cream
- Additional chopped pecans
- Ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Batter: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). In a large bowl, cream the softened butter and sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy, which should take about 5 to 7 minutes. Then, add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition, followed by the vanilla extract.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, and salt to combine evenly.
- Combine Batter: Add the dry ingredients alternately with the buttermilk to the creamed butter mixture, beating well after each addition. This alternating method helps achieve a smooth and well-incorporated batter.
- Transfer to Skillet: Pour the batter into a greased 12-inch cast-iron or other ovenproof skillet, spreading it evenly for consistent baking.
- Prepare Topping: In a small bowl, mix the brown sugar and flour. Cut in the cold butter using a pastry blender or fork until the mixture becomes crumbly. Stir in the finely chopped pecans and old-fashioned oats to create the topping mixture.
- Add Topping and Apples: Sprinkle the pecan-oat topping evenly over the batter in the skillet. Then, arrange the thinly sliced peeled apples over the topping layer for a beautiful and flavorful presentation.
- Bake: Place the skillet in the preheated oven and bake for 60 to 70 minutes, or until the apples are golden brown and the cake is set and cooked through.
- Cool: Remove the skillet from the oven and let it cool on a wire rack to allow the cake to set properly.
- Melt Caramel Drizzle: In the microwave, melt the unwrapped caramels together with the tablespoon of buttermilk, stirring until smooth to create a luscious caramel sauce.
- Drizzle and Serve: Drizzle the warm caramel sauce over the cooled cake. Let it stand until the caramel sets slightly. Serve your caramel-apple skillet buckle warm, optionally topped with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, additional chopped pecans, and a sprinkle of ground cinnamon for extra flavor and texture.
Notes
- Use a cast-iron skillet or any ovenproof skillet for best results and even baking.
- Choose tart-sweet apples like Gala or Fuji for a balanced flavor.
- The topping adds a delightful crunchy texture that pairs nicely with the tender cake and soft apples.
- Letting the caramel drizzle set a bit before serving prevents it from running off the cake.
- This dessert can be served warm or at room temperature.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated and gently reheated before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/12 of recipe)
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 28g
- Sodium: 210mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 52g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
