How to make the best easy caramel apple upside down cake. This simple recipe uses a box cake mix with apples, cinnamon, butter, and brown sugar to make a gooey, rich, moist dessert.
Melt the butter in a 12" inch oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Add brown sugar and cinnamon, stir until a thick paste is formed. Add apple slices. Stir frequently for 10 minutes. Sprinkle with chopped pecans if using. Remove from heat and set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together cake mix, apple juice, eggs, and oil until smooth and well blended. Pour over the apples in the skillet.
Place entire skillet in the oven and bake for 35-40 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean.
Allow to cool on a cooling rack or the stove top for 5-10 minutes. Hold a large platter or plate over the skillet. Holding the platter tightly against the skillet, turn the cake over. Slight jiggling may be required, but the cake will fall out onto the platter.
Notes
This cake is baked in a large skillet. You'll need one that is oven-safe up to at least 350. I like to use my 12" stainless steel skillet, but you could also use a 12" cast iron skillet.I slice the apples for this recipe, but if you wanted it to look more like a pineapple upside down cake, you could cut the apples into rings.