Recipe for moist gingerbread cake with caramelized apples
If you dream of an upside-down gingerbread cake with apples that is both simple and quick to prepare, and wonderfully moist and aromatic, this recipe is for you. Gently caramelized apples, warming spices, and a soft gingerbread base create a dessert perfect for cold days, but it also works as a sweet treat with coffee all year round. This gingerbread cake with apples doesn’t require complicated ingredients or long hours in the kitchen, and the result is always impressive. Be sure to try this recipe and see how easy it is to prepare a homemade moist apple cake that will delight everyone.
Why make upside-down gingerbread cake with apples?
Winter and low temperatures encourage me to bake more aromatic and warming cakes. A good quality gingerbread spice works best here, which, thanks to its warming spices, makes the whole house smell heavenly and the cake tastes sensational! The gingerbread cake itself is very quick and simple to prepare and requires only very basic and easily accessible ingredients. The apple cake is wonderfully moist and slightly caramelized, thanks to being baked upside down. Be sure to save this recipe for later (e.g., on my Instagram, pin it on Pinterest, or save it in my phone app).
What ingredients are needed for an upside-down gingerbread cake with apples?
To bake this moist gingerbread cake with apples, you will only need a few basic ingredients. Below is a condensed list of the products I used and possible substitutes.
- apples – use any apples here, but the best will be hard ones that won’t fall apart too much during baking – e.g., Ligol, Lobo, or Jonaprice
- gingerbread spice blend – as usual, I recommend my homemade spice blend ;) but you can also, of course, use a store-bought one – be sure to check its ingredients! If flour, cocoa, or sugar are listed first in the ingredients, such a spice blend will be less aromatic, and with just a tablespoon of spice added to the cake, the gingerbread flavor will be very weak. If you have such a weak spice blend, use more spice when preparing the cake.
- natural yogurt – I used thick and full-fat Greek yogurt (and the calorie count is calculated for it), but you can use regular natural yogurt, or natural skyr, you can also use buttermilk, or kefir.
- cocoa powder – use unsweetened cocoa powder, it can be regular or defatted. If you don’t have cocoa powder, omit it; the cake will still be delicious :)
What can replace apples in the cake?
Don’t have apples, or don’t feel like an apple cake? No problem! Pears will work great here instead of apples. Slice them too and arrange them on a layer of butter and sugar. Bake the cake as instructed in the recipe. What other fruits can be used for such an upside-down cake? For example, sliced bananas or bananas cut lengthwise in half, halved plums, or sliced oranges (it’s best to peel them first).
Helpful tips for preparing the cake
The gingerbread cake from this recipe turns out quite thick. Depending on the yogurt or kefir used, the batter may be more or less dense. If, after preparation, the batter seems too thick and difficult to spread, add more yogurt, kefir, or regular milk to it.
Be careful when flipping the cake upside down after baking! The caramel and fruit juices created can be hot and you might get burned. It’s best to use oven mitts or a kitchen towel to protect your hands from the heat.
How to store upside-down gingerbread cake with apples?
Once completely cooled, transfer the gingerbread cake with caramelized apples to an airtight container with a lid, or cover it with a cake dome. This will prevent the cake from drying out and help it retain its freshness and moisture longer. You don’t need to put the cake in the refrigerator if it will be eaten within 3 days and it’s not too hot and humid in your home. If the cake sits longer, you can store it in the refrigerator to prevent it from spoiling. You can also freeze the cake for about 3 months.
What to serve with gingerbread cake with apples?
You can serve the cake warm – then ice cream, such as caramel or even plain vanilla, will be a great addition. You can also drizzle the cake with extra caramel sauce. You can serve the cooled cake with whipped cream. Although gingerbread cake with apples tastes extra delicious on its own, and it’s enough to enjoy it with coffee or tea.
How many calories does upside-down gingerbread cake with apples have?
In the table below the recipe, I provided the calorie count for 100g of the cake. If you cut the whole cake into approximately 20 similar pieces, each will have about 111 kcal (carbohydrates – 19g, protein – 2.4g, fats – 3g). So, it must be admitted that this is a very nice and low-calorie gingerbread cake, and everyone can enjoy a piece without guilt – even with a little extra caramel sauce.
I hope that this step-by-step recipe, with photos from the preparation, will also be useful to you and that you will gladly return to it – especially during late autumn and winter. Be sure to leave a comment and share your impressions below the recipe.
Recommended recipes for upside-down fruit cakes
Be sure to try my other recipes for moist cakes with caramelized fruit. Here I recommend three such recipes, among others:
