• Preheat the oven to 170 C/340 F
• Grease and line 3 x 6 inch round pans or 2 x 8 inch round pans.
• Mix the spices together and set aside.

Prepare apples

• Peel, core and chop apples into ½ inch pieces
• Add half the mixed spice and 3 tablespoon flour (use from the measured flour)
• Combine well and set aside.
• Combine together the flour with baking powder, baking soda, mixed spices, and salt
• set aside.

Cake

• Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy
• Add eggs one at a time
• Followed by the vanilla and applesauce
• Next, add the flour and buttermilk in three additions.
• Lastly, add the chopped apples – combine well but do not over mix.
• Divide the batter between the baking pans
• Spread the top so it’s an even layer.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes or until a skewer inserted comes clean.
• Cool in the pan for 10 minutes then on a wire rack until cool completely.

Caramel sauce

• Place the sugar, lemon, and water in a deep light-colored pan (so you can see the color)
• With the heat on medium-low cook the sugar.
• Shake the pan as you need but do not use a spoon. It is important to keep the heat on medium-low so the sugar will caramelize not burn.
• Swirl the pan slowly guiding the heat distribution
• The sugar should now start to color into a golden amber.
• One all the sugar is amber, add in the butter and whisk constantly.
• Followed by the cream. (watch your hands and the mixer will rise when you add the butter and cream)
• Cool for a few minutes in the pan then pours into a glass jar or pot. As the mixture cools it will get thicker.

Caramel buttercream

• Place the butter and salt in the mixer bowl.
• Using the paddle attachment – mix the butter until light and creamy.
• Next, add half a cup of caramel sauce – combine well.
• Add the remaining sauce – combine again.
• Lastly, the powdered sugar – combine well.
• Once all the ingredients have been added – whip for three minutes until the butterscotch is light and fluffy.

Assemble

• Level the apple cake layers if they have any dome.
• Layer them with caramel buttercream frosting in between as shown in the video
• Frost the outside with more caramel buttercream – chilling in between steps as necessary.
• Lastly, use the caramel sauce to create the drip as shown in the video.
• To decorate – put any remaining frosting in a piping bag with a piping nozzle
• Create some pattern on the top.