This incredibly moist and delicious Apple Spice Poke Cake is a fantastic fall dessert for a party or harvest festival! It uses a spice cake mix for the base and then is topped with a caramel glaze, fresh whipped cream, and finished off with super simple spiced apples.

I’ve learned that cakes like Nutella Poke Cake or Easy Carrot Sheet Cake bring out the happiness in people! As Julia Child said “a party without cake is just a meeting.”

They are simple to make but taste like they are made from scratch. Plus, they are an ideal make ahead dessert since the longer they sit the better they taste.

Ingredients

Shopping list:

• spice cake mix
• butter
• milk
• eggs
• apples
• caramel sauce
• sweetened condensed milk
• heavy whipping cream

Pantry staples:

• brown sugar
• vanilla extract
• kosher salt
• apple pie spice
• cornstarch
• powdered sugar

Substitutions

When starting with a box cake mix, I always use milk instead of the water and melted butter instead of the oil. It won’t be dire if you don’t but I have found the cakes always taste a but better when I do.

Also, although I choose to make my own whipped cream and spiced apples for this cake if you don’t want to- don’t!

To make this even easier to prepare:

• Swap the whipped cream for Cool Whip
• Swap spiced apples for apple pie filling

Instructions

To make the spice cake

• Make the cake according to the package directions replacing the water with milk and the oil with butter.  Bake according to the directions on the package.
• Mix the sweetened condensed milk and the caramel together until well blended. Set aside.
• Once the cake is cooked, allow it to cool for 5 minutes.  Poke holes with a skewer or fork and then pour the caramel glaze over the cake.  Place cake in fridge.

To make whipped cream

• In a stand mixer, take the heavy cream straight from the fridge and pour it into the stand mixer bowl. Add 1/4 cup powdered sugar and whip on medium high speed until the mixture has soft peaks.

To make the spiced apples

• Add butter to a large pan over medium heat.  Once the butter has melted, add apple slices and cook for 5 minutes to soften the apples.
• Add brown sugar, vanilla extract, apple pie spice and kosher salt to the apples and stir to combine.  Continue to cook over medium heat until apples are soft, about 15 minutes.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the cold water and cornstarch. Pour the cornstarch mixture into the apple mixture.
• Once the apples are soft, turn up the heat to medium high and cook for 2-3 minutes to thicken the syrup. The apples and syrup will be ready once it reaches the same consistency as maple syrup.  Allow to cool.

To assemble the cake

• Spread whipped cream (see instructions below) over the top of the cake. 
• Add the spiced apples (also see instructions below) over the whipped cream. 
• Chill for 3 hours before serving.

Top Tips

• Poke holes in the cake using a chopstick, fork, or wooden skewer. This is a fun task for kids!
• If you are making this with kids, especially younger children, use Cool Whip and apple pie filling to reduce the overall prep time. Read my guide to find other tips for cooking with kids
• The cake is best made a day ahead so it has plenty of time to chill.
• Store any leftovers of the cake covered for up to 3-4 days in the refrigerator.

Do you follow Jonesin’ For Taste on Facebook? Stop by, say hi, and let me know what kinds of recipes you want to see!

Other easy cake recipes that everyone raves about:

• Easy Orange Pound Cake
• Easy Banana Bundt Cake
• Cherry Chocolate Ice Cream Brownie Cake 

Recipe

Apple Spice Poke Cake

Apple Spice Poke Cake is a semi homemade cake with a spice cake base, caramel glaze, fresh whipped cream, and topped with super simple spiced apples.

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Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes minutes

Chill time: 3 hours hours

Total Time: 3 hours hours 55 minutes minutes

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Servings: 20 servings

Calories: 309kcal

Author: Jade Jones

Ingredients

FOR THE SPICE CAKE:

• ▢ 1 box spice cake mix
• ▢ 1/2 cup butter or amount of the oil called for on box
• ▢ 1 cup milk or amount of the water called for on box
• ▢ 3 eggs or number of eggs called for on box

FOR THE SPICED APPLES:

• ▢ 3 Tablespoon butter
• ▢ 5 apples sliced into thin wedges
• ▢ 1/4 cup dark brown sugar packed
• ▢ 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ▢ Pinch kosher salt
• ▢ 1 Tablespoon apple pie spice
• ▢ 1 1/2 cups cold water
• ▢ 1 Tablespoon cornstarch

FOR THE CARAMEL GLAZE:

• ▢ 1/2 cup jarred caramel sauce
• ▢ 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk

FOR THE WHIPPED CREAM:

• ▢ 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• ▢ 1/4 cup powdered sugar

Instructions

TO MAKE THE SPICE CAKE

• Make the cake according to the package directions replacing the water with milk and the oil with butter. Bake according to the directions on the package.
• Meanwhile, mix the sweetened condensed milk and the caramel together until well blended. Set aside the caramel glaze.
• Once the cake is cooked, allow it to cool for 5 minutes. Poke holes with a skewer or fork and then pour the caramel glaze over the cake. Place cake in fridge.

TO MAKE WHIPPED CREAM

• In a stand mixer, take the heavy cream straight from the fridge and pour it into the stand mixer bowl.
• Add 1/4 cup powdered sugar and whip on medium high speed until the mixture has soft peaks.
• Set aside and keep refrigerated.

TO MAKE THE SPICED APPLES

• Add butter to a large pan over medium heat. Once the butter has melted, add apple slices and cook for 5 minutes to soften the apples.
• Add brown sugar, vanilla extract, apple pie spice and kosher salt to the apples and stir to combine. Continue to cook over medium heat until apples are soft, about 15 minutes.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the cold water and cornstarch. Pour the cornstarch mixture into the apple mixture.
• Once the apples are soft, turn up the heat to medium high and cook for 2-3 minutes to thicken the syrup. The apples and syrup will be ready once it reaches the same consistency as maple syrup. Allow to cool completely.

TO ASSEMBLE THE CAKE

• Spread whipped cream over the chilled caramel glaze soaked cake.
• Add the cooled spiced apples over the whipped cream.
• Chill for at least 3 hours before serving. Refrigerate any leftovers covered for up to 3 to 4 days.

Notes

When starting with a box cake mix, I always use milk instead of the water and melted butter instead of the oil.

Poke holes in the cake using a chopstick, fork, or wooden skewer. This is a fun task for kids.

Before pouring the glaze on the cake, let it sit for 4-5 minutes. You want the cake to be warm but not right out of the oven hot.

The cake is best made a day ahead so it has plenty of time to chill. 

To make this even easier to prepare:

• Swap the whipped cream for Cool Whip
• Swap spiced apples for apple pie filling

Nutrition

Calories: 309kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 61mg | Sodium: 276mg | Potassium: 210mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 26g | Vitamin A: 475IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 84mg | Iron: 1mg

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