This easy-peasy Caramel Apple Eclair Cake is one of my favorite variations on the classic No-Bake Chocolate Eclair Cake! These no-bake desserts are sometimes referred to as icebox cakes because they have creamy layers that soften crunchy cookie layers until you have a soft combo that is reminiscent of a cake without ever needing to turn the oven on! Cinnamon, apple, and caramel is one of the best flavor combinations ever, so I thought it would be fun to try making an apple icebox cake with them. With minimal prep, you simply make the layers and let the refrigerator chill it to perfection! If you love the delicious combination of caramel and apple, then you’ll love my Caramel Apple Pie Crescent Rolls, this Salted Caramel Apple Pie, and even my Gourmet Caramel Apples!
Why We Love This Recipe
Change the flavors of the pie filling or pudding mix to suit your preference. By using a pudding mix, we cut down on prep time (and effort)! With only 15 minutes of prep time, you can relax while the pudding chills.
What You’ll Need
Scroll down to the recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
Apple Pie Filling – Use your favorite brand, or make your own! Spices – Use ground cinnamon and ground nutmeg to get those classic fall flavors. Graham Crackers – Cinnamon graham crackers are our preference for this recipe, but regular honey grahams work well too. You can always sprinkle some cinnamon sugar over regular honey grahams for a little extra sweetness. Pudding – Use a vanilla instant pudding mix for the base of the creamy filling layers in this éclair cake. Instant French Vanilla pudding would work well too. The instant mix will ensure it’s light and fluffy and makes this recipe super easy! Milk – Any kind of milk will work, but I tend to use whole milk for a richer flavor. You can use lower-fat milk or even a dairy-free substitute if you prefer. Cream – Use full-fat heavy cream to make the creamy layer extra smooth and thick, and give it a rich flavor. Powdered Sugar – To make the creamy filling sweet. Extract – Use vanilla extract to meld together the sweet and spiced flavors. Caramel – Caramel dip, caramel topping, or Homemade Caramel Sauce.
How to Make Caramel Apple Eclair Cake
Tips for Success
Serve as is or topped with Homemade Whipped Cream. The first slice is always the trickiest to remove. Use a sturdy spatula to lift it from the pan, then the rest of the slices should be a little prettier. All of the elements of this dessert can be made from scratch from the graham crackers to the pudding to the caramel to the apple pie filling. But this is one of the rare exceptions where I almost always use the shortcut approach and it still turns out well.
Substitutions and Variations
Try some different fillings to change the flavor of this cake! Use cherry or blueberry pie filling instead of apple. For example, replace the apple pie filling with cherry pie filling and use the same chocolate frosting from my original chocolate eclair cake for a black forest icebox cake version. You could also use chocolate graham crackers or Nilla’s Famous Chocolate Wafers instead of honey grahams. You can also change the vanilla pudding for another flavor, like chocolate pudding, pistachio, or banana. Use regular Graham Crackers instead of the cinnamon ones for less of a cinnamon flavor.
More No Bake Dessert Recipes
No Bake Peanut Butter Pie Lemon Ice Box Cake Pumpkin Cheesecake Mousse No Bake Sour Cream Lemon Pie Red, White, and Blue Berry Trifle
Easy No-Bake Blueberry Delight
Fresh Raspberry Jello Dessert
No-Bake Chocolate Eclair Cake
Let me know what you thought with a comment and rating below. You can also take a picture and tag me on Instagram @houseofnasheats or share it on the Pinterest pin so I can see.
