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    Home » Dessert » Cake

    Caramel Apple Mousse Cake

    Modified: Mar 20, 2024 · Published: Oct 2, 2013 by Tonia Larson

    This post may contain affiliate links.

    ↓ JUMP TO RECIPE

    Caramel Apple Mousse Cake is layers of apple cake and creamy caramel mousse. This apple dessert is perfect for fall!

    Caramel Apple Mousse Cake

    Last weekend my friend and her kids came to town. She tries to come here in the fall so we can visit our favorite apple orchard. Last year the weather was cold, and this year it was rainy.

    Luckily we found a couple of hours in the afternoon, between rain showers, to visit, and yes we were wearing our mud boots! We got together Friday night for coffee and I brought the Caramel Apple Mousse Cake.

    Spread Caramel Mousse over cake

    The cake is a spice cake with apples in it. I put it into 2 round cake pans. While they were baking, I made the caramel mousse filling and toasted the pecans. After allowing the cakes to cool, cut them in half (I actually waited until the next day).

    The cake is really moist, and it split when I was trying to layer the cake. It doesn’t matter, though, because the layers are held together with the caramel mousse. Spread 1/4 of the caramel mousse on each of the four layers.

    Caramel Pecan Mousse Apple Cake on red stand

    Spread caramel over the top layer of mousse and allow it to drip down the sides. Top the cake with toasted pecans.

    Slice Removed From Pecan Layer Cake

    Cut a big slice. The caramel mousse holds the layers together.

    caramel apple mousse cake slice

    Enjoy the Caramel Apple Mousse Cake with a cup of coffee. There’s nothing like apple desserts in the fall!

    More Apple Recipes

    • Our easy Apple Crumble is filled with tart apples and a sweet apple crumble topping. It’s easy to make and even better than pie!
    • You’ve got to try making caramel for apples! This recipe is so easy to make with only five ingredients!
    • This four-ingredient Apple Cobbler is made with apple pie filling, cake mix, pumpkin pie spice, and butter!
    • Our easy Apple Crisp recipe is delicious with vanilla ice cream on top!
    Caramel apple mousse cake.

    Caramel Apple Mousse Cake

    Caramel Apple Mousse Cake is layers of apple cake and creamy caramel mousse. This apple dessert is perfect for fall!
    4.52 from 43 votes
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    Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour hour
    Servings: 16
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    Ingredients

    Apple Cake

    • 13.25 ounce spice cake mix
    • ¾ cup apple sauce
    • ½ cup milk
    • 4 eggs
    • ⅓ cup vegetable oil
    • 2 apples peeled and chopped

    Caramel Mousse

    • 8 ounce block cream cheese softened
    • 1 cup powdered sugar
    • 16 oz Cool Whip
    • 1 cup caramel syrup

    Toppings

    • ½ cup caramel syrup
    • ½ cup toasted pecans

    Instructions

    Apple Cake

    • Preheat oven to 350˚F. Combine cake mix, apple sauce, milk, eggs, and oil.
    • Stir in chopped apples.
    • Divide batter between two greased, round cake pans.
    • Bake at 350°F for 25-30 minutes.

    Caramel Mousse

    • In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese.
    • Add the caramel syrup, and beat until smooth.
    • Beat in powdered sugar.
    • Fold in whipped topping.

    Caramel Apple Mousse Cake

    • Allow the cakes to cool before cutting them in half.
    • Spread 1/4 of the caramel mousse on each of the four layers.
    • Spread caramel syrup over the top layer of mousse and allow it to drip down the sides. Melt the caramel in the microwave beforehand, if needed.
    • Top the cake with toasted pecans.
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    Nutrition

    Serving: 1slice | Calories: 504kcal | Carbohydrates: 71g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 61mg | Sodium: 452mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 56g
    Course: Cake
    Cuisine: American
    Author: Tonia Larson

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    About Tonia Larson

    Hi! I’m Tonia, the owner and recipe creator at The Gunny Sack, where I’ve shared easy recipes for busy people for 14+ years! My family-friendly meals, easy side dishes, and delicious desserts include mouthwatering photos, dynamic videos, and step-by-step instructions to help you cook at home.

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    Comments

      4.52 from 43 votes (34 ratings without comment)

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Donna says

      November 25, 2016 at 4:15 pm

      I made this for Thanksgiving and it turned out perfect and was delicious. The only change I made was to bake the cake in 4 pans instead of 2 because I was nervous about splitting the layers. It was definitely a hit and will make again.

      Reply
    2. Tammie says

      November 17, 2016 at 9:49 pm

      If you’re a bit nervous about doing all the diff layers, could you try in a 9×13 baking dish?

      Reply
      • Tonia says

        November 21, 2016 at 9:18 pm

        Hi Tammie,
        Yes, you can make it in a 9×13. Follow the baking time on the box. Also, you will not need all of the caramel mousse.
        Happy Baking!
        ~Tonia

        Reply
    3. Joyce says

      November 9, 2016 at 12:23 pm

      What type of Apple’s do you use? Looks so good, can’t wait to make one!

      Reply
    4. Seamus says

      October 25, 2016 at 12:01 pm

      I followed the instructions exactly as stated but when I put the cake together it fell apart into a big blob. Has anyone else had this problem with the mousse filling? I am sure it will taste good but it is a disaster. I am very disappointed.

      Reply
    5. Bill Blankenship says

      May 9, 2016 at 2:11 pm

      Have made this cake three times and each time the Carmel melts and runs off. Have used ice cream topping and last time melted Carmel bits all with same results. Have refrigerated after putting topping on

      Reply
      • leelee says

        June 15, 2016 at 11:59 am

        you need to add some corn starch/flour to your store bought caramel and put it on the store to simmer and thicken, that’s what I do.

        Reply
      • Molly says

        November 17, 2016 at 5:35 pm

        You need to let your cake cool

        Reply
    6. Bianca says

      January 7, 2016 at 10:41 pm

      I have a question regarding the bake time. Is it 25-30 min for a 8 inch cake pan? It would be less for a 9 inch cake pan right? I want to make this tomorrow if possible and wanted to double check. Thanks!

      Reply
      • Tonia says

        January 8, 2016 at 1:56 pm

        I used 9-inch cake pans. It you want to use 8-inch cake pans, it might take 30-35 minutes. Best of luck! ~Tonia

        Reply
    7. Ellie says

      December 21, 2015 at 7:00 pm

      5 stars
      I made this cake yesterday and it was delicious I didn’t change a thing exept that I shredded the apples after I peeled them because one of my boys don’t like the feel of chunks of fruit in desserts and that I didn’t used all the icing. I had trouble on making the slices even so next time I’ll bake it in 8 inch 4 round cake pans. My family loved it, thanks very much for sharing it with all of us.

      Reply
    8. Earle Wright says

      December 3, 2015 at 10:04 am

      This is a wonderfully delicious recipe. I am making it again, but modifying it a bit to suit my taste. I’m omitting the confectioner’s sugar altogether, as it’s a bit sweet for me. I’m thinking the caramel sauce and whipped topping will be sufficient for sweetness. Further, I’m doubling the spice cake to 8 slabs (after slicing), as I prefer just a little mousse on each layer. Lastly, I will purchase two(2) containers of the Marzetti dip to ensure that I have enough for the decorative “spillover” down the sides.

      We’ll see how this turns out. Either way, I will definitely look for your new additions. You sold me with this recipe!

      Reply
      • Earle Wright says

        December 26, 2015 at 10:18 am

        5 stars
        I make this cake again with the modifications described above. Just for the fun of it, I stacked all eight(8) layers into one vertical cake and took it to our annual choir Christmas party. It was a beautiful display, although a bit unwieldy to cut and serve. One friend who had a slice from the original recipe and one from my modified recipe found mine better tasting to her. It is not a competition for votes, however. It is simply a recognition of how much “sweet taste” different people react to. We also both agreed that this cake is yummy a day or two later, straight from the refrigerator.

        I’m going to make this again soon, but I’ll split it into two cakes, rather than do the “eight layer stack-up”. I won’t have any trouble deciding what to do with the two cakes. Giving one of these cakes will make a friend for life!

        Reply
    9. Beverly says

      November 26, 2015 at 12:24 pm

      5 stars
      Just a little tip in cutting the cake layer in half, I used dental floss string and sawed it back and forth pulling towards me with the cake flat. This worked great, I only had 9in cake pans and thought it would be impossible to slice these layers with a knife so I just went with the floss and it worked really well. You will need to wedge the cake plate against something while sawing the layer in half with the floss.

      Reply
    10. Kara says

      October 27, 2015 at 4:27 pm

      5 stars
      Hi! I made this cake in 2014 for my Thanksgiving feast and it was so AMAZING, that I’m making it again this year. Thank you for the great idea and the easy to follow instructions. I can’t wait to share it on my own blog. I’ll definitely link back to your page…your recipes are too good not to check out. Can’t wait to try more of them!

      Reply
      • Tobie says

        November 25, 2015 at 3:39 pm

        can you make the mousse ahead of time and assemble later?

        Reply
        • Tonia says

          November 26, 2015 at 1:10 pm

          Hey Tobie! Sorry I’ve been away from my computer. Had a grooms dinner last night and baking/cooking for Thanksgiving today. Yes, you could do that. Also, this cake will hold up really well if you want to assemble it ahead of time. Enjoy! ~Tonia

          Reply
    11. Amaryllis @ thetastyother.com says

      September 14, 2015 at 9:38 am

      Hi Tonia! What a gorgeous fall dessert! I think the season is all about deep, comforting flavours and your mousse cake is exactly that! Thanks so much for sharing, can’t wait to try it.

      Reply
    12. Chantelle Simpson says

      September 2, 2015 at 11:09 pm

      Hi I have been following your blog for a while now and find some of the recipes frustrating because I live in Australia and we do not have cool whip, caramel dip or spice cake mix here. It would be really useful if you could have a sidebar for substitutes of your ingredients for all of your international followers. I scrolled down and read the comments in regards to the spice cake substitute and using whipped cream instead of cool whip but what can I use instead of the caramel dip?

      Many thanks

      Reply
      • Tonia says

        September 4, 2015 at 10:54 am

        Hi Chantelle! First, I want to start by thanking you for being a long time follower! That means so much to me. I’m sorry to hear that some of the recipes are frustrating due to the differences in available products in the two countries. I will take your suggestion and start to work on an Australia cheat sheet. In the meantime, I need YOUR help because not only do I not know what products you DON’T HAVE in Australia, I don’t know what products you DO HAVE. So, regarding the caramel dip, I used what is basically a thicker version of caramel ice cream topping, so you could use caramel ice cream topping instead. If that isn’t available in the stores, I can suggest this recipe of mine: http://www.thegunnysack.com/2012/06/ice-cream-topping-recipe-caramel-syrup.html
        Warmly,
        ~Tonia

        Reply
        • Pat Sager says

          November 15, 2015 at 10:52 pm

          Why not find a recipe for home made spice cake…would probably be even better.

          Reply
          • Tonia says

            November 17, 2015 at 10:25 am

            Go for it! Here is a recipe from my friend Amanda at I Am Baker to try: http://iambaker.net/homemade-spice-cake-mix/

            Reply
      • Courtney says

        November 23, 2016 at 7:04 pm

        You can make Carmel dip it’s super easy.
        1 cup granulated sugar
        6 Tablespoons of salted butter, cut 6 pieces
        1/2 cup heavy cream
        1tsp salt

        Heat sugar over medium heat until thick brown/amber color.. careful not to burn.
        Once sugar is melted immediately add butter (be careful will boil rapidly when added)
        Stir butter until melted in sugar 2-3 min
        Very slowly drizzle heavy cream while stirring (can cause splatter because of cold cream to hot mixture)
        Allow to boil for 1 min, it will rise in pan.
        Remove from heat and stir in 1tsp salt.. allow to cool before using!
        Keep in a jar with lid..

        Hope this helps it’s delicious and can be used for alot of Carmel recipes since you don’t have it there!! Enjoy!!

        Reply
    13. Jeanie says

      November 24, 2014 at 1:35 am

      looks delicious! Was wondering how small you chopped the apples up. I really want to try this!

      Reply
      • Tonia says

        November 24, 2014 at 9:39 am

        Hi Jeanie,
        They were small, more like diced than chopped, I supposed. They have to be small enough to soften while baking. Enjoy!
        ~Tonia

        Reply
    14. Genevieve says

      October 18, 2014 at 4:26 pm

      I tried this cake today. My mousse turned out like glaze. Any thoughts on what I should do differently? I definitely want to try it again!

      Reply
      • Tonia says

        October 18, 2014 at 5:48 pm

        Hmmm…it is important that you fold in the whipped topping (Cool Whip) by hand, instead of beating it in with your mixer so that it doesn’t deflate. Was your cream cheese or your caramel dip warm/hot? That would make the whipped topping turn to liquid. Also, the whipped topping (this is the huge 16 oz size tub) should be thawed in the fridge. You want it to be cold but not frozen. What brand of caramel dip did you use? The caramel dip I used was really thick http://www.marzetti.com/products/product/2/312/marzetti-old-fashioned-caramel-dip If yours was thin/runny you might want to use less next time. Finally, you might be able to salvage the “glaze” you have right now by folding in additional whipped topping! Best of luck! ~Tonia

        Reply
    15. Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom says

      September 4, 2014 at 12:26 pm

      Holy caramel! love this caramel-apple-mousse-cake!!

      Reply
    16. Treva says

      May 12, 2014 at 8:59 am

      Looks fabulous! Does this cake need to be refrigerated?

      Reply
      • Tonia says

        May 12, 2014 at 9:02 am

        Yes, it should be refrigerated due to the mousse layers. Happy Baking!

        Reply
    17. Michelle says

      December 26, 2013 at 9:48 am

      I have made this cake several times and it is wonderful!! The first time I made it I used Carmel ice cream topping instead of Carmel dip, because that is what I already had and didn’t realize the difference. The difference is that Carmel dip is thicker. The ice cream topping is thinner and it makes the mousse thinner, but still doable. Both works but dip is better. I still use the ice cream topping to drizzle over the top and the dip for the mousse.

      Reply
    18. MaryB says

      November 7, 2013 at 9:33 pm

      This is gorgeous! I’m not sure what you mean by caramel dip though. Is this a purchased product? If so, what brand and where might it be available? I am assuming it is not the same thing as caramel ice cream topping.

      Reply
      • Tonia says

        November 7, 2013 at 11:00 pm

        Hi Mary,
        It is the caramel you use for apples but I’m sure caramel ice cream topping would work too. I used Marzetti brand: http://www.marzetti.com/products/product/2/312/marzetti-old-fashioned-caramel-dip Best of luck and thanks for stopping by!
        ~Tonia

        Reply
      • sue zmiecz says

        November 14, 2014 at 1:06 pm

        It’s usually found in your grocery store produce area.

        Reply
    19. Doug says

      November 7, 2013 at 12:30 am

      I think I just found my Thanksgiving dessert! That looks great, and I love caramel apples. And the plus side is this will be super easy to make gluten free. After a quick internet search I’ve concluded that I can take a Gluten Free yellow cake mix and add 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg, 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger, and 1/4 teaspoon allspice or cloves to the mix to turn it into a spice cake mix.

      Reply
      • Tonia says

        November 7, 2013 at 12:49 am

        Thanks for the tip Doug!

        Reply
    20. Robin Gagnon says

      November 5, 2013 at 2:56 pm

      Such a gorgeous shot. It drew in in off Pinterest 🙂

      Reply
      • Tonia says

        November 5, 2013 at 3:13 pm

        I’ve got to try to get you to come to my site somehow, Robin, right? 😉 Thanks for stopping by!

        Reply
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    Tonia Larson from The Gunny Sack.

    Hi, I'm Tonia! Welcome to The Gunny Sack, where I’ve shared easy recipes for busy people for 14+ years! Meet Tonia Larson →

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