A rustic steamed cake dessert. Crock-Pot Apple Bourbon Upside Down Cake is made with whole wheat flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, real bourbon, and lots of apples.
Then and Now
This post was originally published 3/14/2014. It was a recipe I created for the Crock-Pot All Stars Contest. I updated the recipe to include a photo overview with more detail about ingredients and a snapshot video on 12/04/2023.
Most people don't think of upside-down cakes being made in a crockpot.
Ultimate Crock-Pot All-Star, 1st Place, 2013
Crock-Pot® Spiced Apple & Bourbon Upside-Down Cake
"Crock-Pot chose my original recipe as a first-place win! It's a warmer and goo-ee-er version of the Rustic Apple cake I've been making for years. It's slow-cooked, warm, spicy, and spiked. The use of whole wheat flour is what makes this dessert so delicious. I can't wait for the mailman to arrive with my prize package. 🙂 I hope you will enjoy this steamed-in-the-crock-pot cake!" -Lanie Smith
Photos of Making Crock-Pot Apple Cake
First, measure out all of your dry ingredients because this recipe can be confusing. Several ingredients are used twice, "Separately."
- Core and Peel the fresh apples.
2. Slice the Apples.
3. Mix the first set of ingredients into the apple slices to coat them. Look at those Fall Flavors.
4. Place the spiced apples into a hot buttered crock pot.
5. Pour the melted butter into the next set of dry ingredients and mix until the cake batter comes together and is pale.
6. Pour the cake batter on top of the apples.
7. Cover with lid and let steam bake in the Crock-Pot until cake has risen. Slow Cooker temperatures vary, so take a look every 30 minutes. Do not remove the lid because that can cause the cake to drop in the middle. (It snowed today!) Perfect day to pull out the Crock-Pot.
8. The top of the cake should be an even light brown color. Scoop into bowls and top with Cool Whip or a big scoop of Vanilla Ice cream.
Other Recipes you might like!
- Easy Rotisserie Poppy Seed Chicken in the Crock-Pot
- 5-Ingredient Apple and Pecan Pandowdy
- Pork and Beans Recipe - Baked Beans Using Van Camp's
Special Tips
+ Depending on the size and style of your Crock-Pot, the time to cook this recipe may vary. Don't remove the lid during cooking.
+I've noted in the recipe that several ingredients are used twice. It's best to measure them out before you get started to not confuse the amounts.
+Ice cream or Cool Whip is technically optional, but it taste SO much better with it.
To Elevate the flavor of this recipe. Grate your own nutmeg!
I hope you love making this Crock-Pot Cake as much as I do.
Crock-Pot Apple Bourbon Upside Down Cake
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon Plus ½ cup unsalted butter (Total Amount ½ Cup plus 1 TBS.) divided, melted
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 3 Honeycrisp Apples or other firm sweet apples like Ambrosia or Pink Lady
- ½ cup Plus ¾ cup light brown sugar (Total Amount 1 ¼ cups) divided
- 2 Tablespoons Plus ¾ cup whole wheat flour (Total Amount ¾ cup plus 2 TBS.) divided
- ¼ cup (50 ml bottle) fine quality Kentucky bourbon
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon baking SODA
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 can whipped cream, Cool Whip or vanilla ice cream
Instructions
- Important: Please take note and close attention to the recipe measurments. Several ingredients are mentioned once in the list, but are divided or used separately throughout the preparation.
- Turn slow cooker on high heat. With 1 Tablespoon of the butter, coat inside of crock. Melt the remaining butter in the microwave. Set aside.
- In a small bowl, stir together the cinnamon and nutmeg to make a spice mixture.
- Meanwhile; peel, core and cut apples into slices and place in a large bowl. Sprinkle ½ cup of the brown sugar over the apples, along with 2 Tablespoons of the flour and 1 teaspoon of the spice mixture. Toss to completely coat apples. Put apples in 3-quart Crock-Pot®.
- Pour bourbon over the apples.
- In a large mixing bowl, with a beater or electric mixer, whip the egg, vanilla, remaining ¾ cup brown sugar and the melted butter for about 3 minutes until pale in color.
- Continue to mix, adding in the baking soda, salt, remaining spice, and the remaining ¾ cup flour.
- Pour batter over apples. Secure lid and DO NOT lift,- cook on high heat for 1 ½ to 2 hours, reduce to low heat and cook another 30 minutes. (When cake is evenly risen, Scoop hot and overturn onto individual serving dishes. Top with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. (Temperatures may vary from crockpot to crockpot)
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