Whether you are a Pie lover or a Cake lover I’ve got you covered with the all in one dessert called the Pie Caken!
My first time making this it was known more commonly as a Cher-Pumple
Because it was a cherry pie baked into a pumpkin pie baked into an apple pie!
Well in my version for Pie Caken I’m not only baking pies but I’m baking them into cakes!
OK technically I’m not really doing exactly that….. because I found a work around
By baking everything separately and then building this “cake style” it’s not only cleaner and easier to build but allows you to get more creative with the recipes you want to use
And the recipes I want to use are Chocolate Cream Pie, Pumpkin Pie and Apple Cake!
All put together with fall spiced buttercream, these three recipes work perfectly together
Not to mention they are my top three dessert recipes I would make every year for holiday dessert table anyway! Only now it’s just all in one!
3 Reasons to Love Pie Caken
#1 This way is easier.
#2 This way is neater.
#3 You can get more creative with the recipes you want to use since they are all baked separately and then constructed and built into a final layer cake.
Homemade recipes for everything you need are linked below in the recipes section
Including my famous recipe for hot apple pie to pile on top!
Notes for Success:
I would recommend a two day time period to prep and execute everything
As you will see in the video see I made my Pie Caken(s) into 2-finished 6 inch cakes, but if you prefer to make 1 larger 8″ cake, all the recipes below are the same
Just use 2- 8″ cake pans to bake the apple cake layers and the tart mold for the chocolate and pumpkin pie is going to be 6″ or 7″ whichever you have is fine
The recipe below lists all the recipes you will need with direct links to grab written printable forms.
Best to make the buttercream recipe ahead of time and leave at room temperature or refrigerate until needed.
American Buttercream holds up the best to added flavors as well as a heavy build such as the Pie Caken
Apple cake layers can be made a day ahead and wrapped loosely and refrigerated until you are ready to build.
The pies can also be made up to 3 days in advance as well as the apple filling.
Don’t worry I have the full video tutorial with the step by step instructions on how to make this cake!
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL YOUTUBE VIDEO TUTORIAL FOR HOW TO MAKE THIS CAKE!
Pie Caken
Ingredients
Apple cake Recipe:
- Vegetable Oil ½ cup (118ml)
- Granulated Sugar 1/3 cup (66g)
- Light Brown Sugar 1/3 cup (68g)
- Cinnamon 1 teaspoon
- Nutmeg ½ teaspoon
- Cloves pinch
- Ground Ginger ¼ teaspoon
- Salt ¼ teaspoon
- Flax Meal 2 Tablespoons (16g)
- Hot Water 6 Tablespoons (90ml)
- Vanilla Extract 1 teaspoon (5ml)
- Baking Soda ¾ teaspoon
- Baking Powder ¾ teaspoon
- All Purpose Flour 1 cup + 2 Tbs (140g)
- Shredded Apples from 1 medium apple, approximately 1 cup packed (125g)
Graham Cracker Crust For Pumpkin Pie
- Graham Crackers 9 sheets (approx 1½ cups ground crumbs)
- Melted Vegan Butter 5 Tablespoons (70g)
- ½ Recipe Pumpkin Pie
Chocolate Cookie Crust For Chocolate Silk Pie
- Sandwich cookie (with the fillings) 7 ounces (approx 1½ cup ground crumbs)
- Melted Vegan Butter 4 Tbs (56g)
- ½ Recipe Vegan Ganache
Other Recipes
Instructions
- For the Mini Pies:
- Grind the cookies in a food processor with the melted vegan butter and then press into the bottom and sides of an UN-greased tart mold with a removable bottom.
- Prepare the pumpkin pie & vegan ganache as per the instructions on those blog posts/recipes and pour into the prepared tart molds with the graham cracker crust.
- Bake the Pumpkin Pies for approx 25 minutes and then refrigerate for at least 5 hours to cool & set.
- The vegan ganache gets poured into the chocolate crusts and refrigerated for at least 4 hours to set.
- Meanwhile prepare the apple cake: Peel, core and then shred the apples
- Combine the ground flax with the hot water and whisk smooth, set aside for 5 minutes to thicken
- In a large mixing bowl combine both sugars with the salt, oil and vanilla & whisk smooth.
- Add the thickened flax paste and whisk smooth
- Sift together the flour, salt, all the spices with the baking soda & baking powder and add to the sugar mixture
- Whisk to a smooth batter
- Add the shredded apples and mix well.
- Pour batter into prepared cake pans and bake immediately in preheated 350° F oven.
- Cake layers will take approximately 25 -35 minutes or when a toothpick inserted yields moist crumbs, or the best way to check is if it is springy to the touch when you gently press the center
- Cool in the pans and then flip into a wire rack to cool the rest of the way.
- Prepare the Buttercream Recipe and add the pumpkin pie spice last
- Prepare the Apple Filling recipe & cool completely before using as the topping on the cake.
Notes
Pie-Caken must be refrigerated at all times, and will stay fresh for up to 7 days covered loosely to prevent drying
Hi Gretchen! I just love the flavor profile of this apple spice cake. Could the apple cake recipe be used for cupcakes? If so, are there any adjustments that need to be made? Many thanks!
This was awesome! You make it look fun and easy. Thank you’
Hi! I’m confused as you mention the chocolate silk layer but give a recipe for chocolate ganache They are very different right? I’d prefer something lighter and less dense but not sure the “silk” holds up to this cake. Thoughts? I’m making it tomorrow for Thanksgiving and would love to know! Thx!
Sure you can use a chocolate custard if you prefer. Still a stove top recipe so everything would be the same.
CLICK HERE FOR CHOCOLATE CUSTARD
Thank you…for the apple cake…I don’t see measurement for the flax and hot water…??
Sorry, I also don’t see measurement for vanilla. I have all ingredients out and hoping to finish making this tonight. Thank you.
Sorry, I also don’t see measurement for vanilla. I have all ingredients out and hoping to finish making this tonight. Thank you.
So sorry! But you don’t mention any of the other spices in the directions and also when/to what you put the egg replacer. I’m just putting it into my sugar mixture and will then add the flax. Pls correct the recipe instructions. I am excited to make this but don’t want to mess up.
Hi Gloria, let me take a look at the apple cake recipe, I’m sorry for any errors & confusion!
Thank you for checking it out. I see you eliminated the egg. I’ll let you know how it turns out! Happy Thanksgiving.
Gretchen,
If I make the cake ahead of time and freeze it can I assemble the cake in it’s frozen state , or should it be thawed?
I often assemble frozen, the cake will start to thaw as you build and by the time you have finished crumb ice, then final ice..it will be almost thawed completely! Just be ware of any condensation that could occur, if this happens just paper towel it off and continue