For the Cake:

• Prepare your cake pans with pan grease and a parchment paper liner I am using 3-7" cake pans but you can make 2-8" layers instead
• Preheat the oven to 350F
• Peel, core, shred the apples
• Combine the ground flax with the hot water & whisk smooth, set aside for 5 minutes to thicken
• In a large mixing bowl combine both sugars with the salt, oil & vanilla & whisk smooth.
• Add the thickened flax paste & whisk smooth
• Sift together the flour, salt, cinnamon & the baking soda & baking powder and add to the liquid mixture in the mixing bowl
• Add the shredded apples, mix well.
• Pour batter into prepared cake pans & bake immediately in preheated 350° F oven.
• Cake layers will take approximately 30-35 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
• Prepare the recipe for the caramel sauce as per the instructions on that page, then pour into a heat proof container & refrigerate until thick & cold
• Prepare the Buttercream of your choice by following the instructions for that recipe, at the last stage of mixing add ¼ cup of the cold caramel to the buttercream and mix well.
• Prepare the apple filling as per the instructions on that recipe post
• Once the cakes are baked & cooled to cold, the caramel sauce is thick & the buttercream & apple fillings are also ready, you can proceed to build the cake.
• Watch the full YouTube video tutorial to see how I assembled the cake.