Just Because Cake Party - Apple Crisp Caramel Cake

Yesterday we had a "Just Because Cake Party" with some of our friends.  The star of the party was a cake I invented and it was a 4-Layer Apple Crisp Caramel Cake.  Everyone said it was wonderful.  Though I didn't come up with the recipe for each individual piece of the cake I did come up with the combination so this is my recipe.

4-Layer Apple Crisp Caramel Cake

Serves approximately 18-20 people

Skill level - Moderate Baking Skills Needed

Kitchen Mess Meter - HIGH

Yellow Cake – Makes 2 layers

To make a 4 layer cake make this 2 times.

Ingredients

1 cup butter

1 ½ cups white sugar

8 egg yolks

¾ cup milk

1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract

2 cups cake flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

Directions

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour 2 – 8 inch round pans. Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.

2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg yolks one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the milk, mixing just until incorporated. Pour batter into prepared pans.

3. Bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until tops spring back when lightly tapped. Cool 15 minutes before turning out onto cooling racks.

4.  Allow the layers to cool complete before using.

Caramel Filling – Buy original caramel topping in the jar (usually found near the ice cream toppings).

Apple Filling

Ingredients

6 medium apples – peeled, cored and sliced

½ cup white sugar

3 Tablespoons all-purpose flour

½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

½ teaspoon ground nutmeg

¼ teaspoon ground cloves

½ cup whole milk

1 Tablespoon butter

1 Tablespoon sugar

Directions

1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 2 quart casserole dish, or coat with non-stick cooking spray.

2.Place apples in a large bowl. In a small bowl, mix together sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. Stir spice mixture into apples until evenly distributed. Spoon into prepared dish. Pour milk evenly over apple mixture, place small slices of the butter on top of apples and sprinkle the apple mixture with the sugar.

3. Bake in preheated oven for 45 to 60 minutes, or until soft and bubbly. Allow the mixture to cool completely before using.

Caramel Frosting – This will just cover the tops and sides of a 4-layer cake.  You might want to make 2x as much if you want to decorate with it.

This is the last thing you make as you want to use it the same day you assemble the cake.

Ingredients

½ cup butter

1 cup packed brown sugar

¼ teaspoon salt

6 Tablespoons milk

3 cups sifted confectioners sugar

Directions

1. Melt butter in a saucepan, stir in the brown sugar and the salt. Bring to a boil and boil for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and add the milk, stirring all the while.

2. Return to heat and bring to a boil again. Remove from heat and allow to cool until lukewarm (approximately 20 to 25 minutes). Stir in the confectioners' sugar and beat until smooth and cool enough to spread. You might need to add a few drops of milk if frosting gets too stiff.

Crumb Topping

Ingredients

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup rolled oats

1 cup all-purpose flour

½ cup butter, melted

Directions

Preheat oven to 35o degrees F

In a large bowl, combine brown sugar, oats, flour and butter. Mix until crumbly.

Place in a greased 8 inch pan

Bake for 25 minutes or until golden brown (you will have left over)

Cake Assembly

1.Cut all layers to have a flat top

2.Place the first layer right side up on a cake board

3.Pipe the frosting around the upper edge to keep the apples from mixing with the frosting on the outside

4.Place a thin layer of apples on the layer

5.Place the second layer of the first face down

6.Use a fork to poke hole in the layer to allow the caramel frosting to go into the cake

7.Pipe the frosting around the upper edge

8.Pour the warm caramel over the cake making a thin layer

9.Place the third layer upside down over the second layer

10.Repeat steps 3 and 4

11.Place the last layer on the cake

12.Frost the cake

13.Crush up the crumb topping into small chunks

14.Place Crushed topping on the cake

15.Drizzle the topping with Caramel 

Serve with a scoop of ice cream.