Apple Snacking Cake with Salted Brown Butter Frosting

Name: Apple Snacking Cake with Salted Brown Butter Frosting
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 9
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour; 1 teaspoon baking powder; 1/2 teaspoon baking soda; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened; 3/4 cup granulated sugar; 2 large eggs; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1/2 cup sour cream; 2 cups Honeycrisp apples, peeled and chopped; 1/4 cup unsalted butter, for the frosting; 4 ounces cream cheese, softened; 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

A moist and cozy apple cake topped with a rich brown butter cream cheese frosting that everyone will love.

By Recipes By Nani· 🌍 American· September 29, 2026

Apple Snacking Cake with Salted Brown Butter Frosting

recipesbynani.com

Prep

20 minutes

Cook

35 minutes

Total

55 minutes

Serves

This apple snacking cake is one of my favorite ways to welcome the cooler weather. It is filled with juicy chunks of fresh apple, and it is simple enough to bake on a whim for an afternoon treat or a casual weekend get together.

The real star of this recipe is the salted brown butter frosting. Brown butter adds a deep, nutty flavor that pairs beautifully with the sweet apples. If you have time, let the butter cool until it is just soft before mixing it with the cream cheese so your frosting stays nice and smooth.

🧺 Ingredients

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup sour cream
2 cups Honeycrisp apples, peeled and chopped
1/4 cup unsalted butter, for the frosting
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

👩‍🍳Instructions

1
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and grease an 8 inch square baking pan.
2
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
3
In a larger bowl, beat the softened butter and sugar together until creamy. Add the eggs and vanilla, mixing well.
4
Gently fold in the sour cream, then stir in the flour mixture until just combined. Fold in the chopped apples.
5
Spread the batter into your prepared pan and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool completely.
6
To make the frosting, melt the 1/4 cup butter in a small pan over medium heat until it turns golden brown and smells nutty. Let it cool until it is soft but not hard.
7
Beat the browned butter with the softened cream cheese and powdered sugar until smooth and fluffy. Spread over the cooled cake before serving.

💡 Tips

Store any leftovers in the refrigerator for up to three days. This cake tastes even better the next day once the apple juices have settled into the crumb. You can also serve it slightly warmed with a scoop of vanilla ice cream if you want to be extra indulgent.

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