Apple Skillet Cake With Salted Caramel Frosting Recipes

SKILLET APPLE CAKE WITH CARAMEL FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350F (325F convection).
• Butter a 10-inch cast iron skillet, dust with flour, and tap out excess.
• To make the cake, combine the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg in a large bowl and mix well. Add the apples, shortening and eggs to the flour mixture and beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. The batter will be stiff. Spread the batter evenly in the skillet.
• Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean, 40-45 minutes. Cool in the pan.
• To make the frosting, melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the brown sugar and stir until the sugar dissolves. Add the milk and bring to a boil. Pour into a mixing bowl and let cool for 10 minutes. Add the vanilla extract and powdered sugar and beat with a whisk until creamy (or use an electric mixer). The frosting will thicken as it cools. Spread evenly over the cooled apple cake. Sprinkle the chopped pecans over the top.

APPLE SKILLET CAKE WITH SALTED CARAMEL FROSTING

Steps:

• Make the apples: In a 10-inch sauté pan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the apples, brown sugar and salt, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the sugar dissolves and the apples soften slightly, 4 to 5 minutes. Let cool to room temperature.
• Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 10-inch oven-proof skillet with butter.
• Make the cake: In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition, and mix to combine. Scrape the bowl well, then beat in the vanilla.
• In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg to combine. Add the flour mixture to the mixer and mix just until incorporated. Scrape the bowl well.
• With a rubber spatula, gently fold the apple mixture (including all of the caramel-like liquid in the pan) into the batter. Mix just until incorporated.
• Pour the batter into the prepared skillet and spread into an even layer. Bake until the surface is evenly golden brown and appears set - a toothpick inserted into the center should have a few moist crumbs clinging to it, 30 to 35 minutes. Let cool completely.
• Make the frosting: In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy, 4 to 5 minutes.
• Place the caramels in a microwave-safe container. Microwave in 20-second bursts, stirring, until the caramel is warm and fluid. (This mixture will cool quickly, so be sure to do it just before you mix the frosting.) Add the warm (not hot) caramel mixture and mix on medium speed until incorporated. Scrape the bowl well.
• Add the cream and vanilla and mix to combine. The frosting should be smooth and very soft. Scoop the frosting onto the cooled cake, and spread into an even layer. Garnish with flaky salt just before serving.