Easy Apple Upside-Down Cake

This easy Apple Upside-Down Cake starts with a white cake mix and bakes up beautifully in a cast iron skillet or a regular pan. Warm, caramelized, and delicious!

This easy Apple Upside-Down Cake starts with a simple white cake mix, a handful of pantry staples, and a cast-iron skillet—but you can bake it in a regular pan, too! The result? A tender cinnamon-kissed cake topped with buttery brown-sugar caramel, chopped apples, and pecans.

A Warm, Cozy Dessert: Perfect for Fall!

There’s just something about a warm apple dessert that feels like a hug from the inside out. And there are some days when you just need a hug, right?

This is especially true in the fall, when the crisp, cool air seems to cry out, "Bake something warm!"

That's what it was like on the day I made this cake. It was a chilly afternoon, and the smell alone was enough to make the whole house feel cozy, which was just what I needed on that particular day.

At a Glance

• Skill level: Easy
• Flavor profile: Warm apple, buttery caramel, toasted pecans, cinnamon-sweet cake
• Options included: Cast-iron skillet or 10-inch cake pan
• Best for: Fall gatherings, Sunday desserts, or any day you need something warm and comforting

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Uses a boxed cake mix—no fussy steps
• Bakes beautifully in cast iron or a round pan
• Caramelized topping turns out glossy and rich
• Perfect for fall, but honestly delicious year-round

Apple Cake Ingredients

You will find a full printable recipe card at the bottom of this post but here's a peek at what you will need. These are simple ingredients you might already have on hand in your kitchen.

• 2 medium apples, peeled and chopped (patted dry)
• ¼ cup butter
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 box white cake mix
• Ingredients listed on the box (usually eggs, oil, and water)
• 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
• ½–1 cup chopped pecans
• cinnamon/sugar for coating apples (you won't need much)
• Optional: caramel sauce or sea-salt caramel for drizzling

How to Make Apple Upside-Down Cake

This comes together so easily. You're going to be so glad you made this one, friends!

1. Prepare the Apples

• Cube and place in water as you work so they don't brown.
• Drain and pat them dry so they don’t water down the caramel.
• Once you're ready to assemble the cake, coat the apples in cinnamon-sugar mixture.

2. Make the Caramel Base

• Place ¼ cup butter in a 10–12 inch cast-iron skillet.
• Melt over medium-low heat, tilting or brushing so butter coats the sides.
• Stir in 1 cup brown sugar. Cook 1–2 minutes until glossy and bubbly.
• Remove from heat and spread evenly over the bottom.

3. Add Apples and Pecans

Scatter apples evenly over the caramel. Sprinkle pecans across the top.

4. Mix the Cake Batter

• Prepare cake mix as directed on box. Stir in 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon.
• Pour batter gently over apples.

5. Time to Bake!

• Bake at 350°F (177°C) for 35–45 minutes, until a toothpick in the center comes out clean.
• (Cast iron may bake slightly faster—check at 35 minutes.)

6. Cool and Flip

Cool for 5–7 minutes—no longer!
Run a butter knife around the edge.
Invert onto a serving plate and lift the skillet straight up to reveal that caramel-apple topping.
Drizzle with caramel if you’d like extra shine.

7. Top and Serve!

• Top with caramel
• Serve and enjoy!

Optional: Bake in a Regular Cake Pan

No cast-iron skillet? No problem!

• Use a 10-inch round pan.
• Line the bottom only with parchment (no flour spray).
• Melt butter and brown sugar in a small saucepan, pour into pan, then layer apples and pecans.
• Proceed with batter and baking instructions above.
  You’ll get the same flavor with a slightly lighter caramelization.

How to Store This Apple Cake

• Room temperature (first 24 hours): Keep loosely covered.
• After 24 hours: Refrigerate, tightly covered, up to 4 days.
• To reheat: Microwave individual slices 12–15 seconds to refresh the caramel.
• Freezer: Wrap slices in plastic and foil; freeze up to 2 months. Thaw and warm before serving.

Tips for Success

• Don’t seal the cake while warm; let it cool uncovered for 45–60 minutes before covering.
• If caramel sticks, warm the skillet’s bottom for 10 seconds on the stove, then flip again.
• A drizzle of salted caramel takes it from good to unforgettable.

What to Expect from this Apple Cake

As I mentioned above, this is a cake that just screams, "Fall!" It's got that warm, sweet flavor from the apples, the luscious cake layer, and that caramel. . .well, it's sheer perfection.

Personally, I can't get enough apples in my life, and hopefully you feel the same. If you do, this is one dessert you're going to love serving, time and time again!

Other Apple Favorites

If you enjoy skillet desserts, you’ll also love the Apple Dump Cake over at Backyard Texas Grill—it’s a rustic outdoor cousin to this cozy indoor version!

I've also got an Apple Round-up that's filled with spectacularly fun (and tasty!) apple-icious treats!

That's it for this post, friends! If you make this recipe and love it, please leave a review. And before you go, why not pin some photos to your Pinterest boards?

Janice Thompson is a professional baker, cake designer, and author with over 20 years of experience creating unique cakes and desserts. She’s the creator of Out of the Box Baking, where she shares her favorite doctored cake mix recipes, tutorials, and baking tips. Learn more →