Applesauce Cake

This easy applesauce cake recipe is moist and perfectly spiced with cinnamon, allspice and cloves. It’s the kind of cozy dessert that tastes like fall in every bite. Topped with a favorite fluffy cream cheese frosting, it's easy to make for holidays, potlucks, or just because.

This old-fashioned spice cake will have everyone asking for seconds.

Like this chocolate fudge cake, this delicious cake is another family favorite from our Nanna’s cookbook she made us. It has the similar spices of carrot cake but with the natural sweetness of unsweetened applesauce.

I like to make it in a 9×13 baking pan, but Nanna would make it in a bundt cake pan too.  

Do I have to use cream cheese frosting?

Nope! You can also just add a dusting of powdered sugar or a vanilla glaze works great too. Mix a cup of powdered sugar with 2 tablespoons of milk and ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract. Add a little more milk to thin if desired.

Ingredients You'll Need

The complete list of ingredients with amounts are listed in the full recipe card below.

For the Cake:

• All purpose flour -Measure correctly using a spoon-and-level method or kitchen scale. Use a one-to-one gluten free flour like Bob's Red Mill.  I have also used ½ oat flour and ½ all purpose flour.
• Granulated sugar – you can also use ½ brown sugar and half granulated sugar if you’d like.
• Baking soda and salt – Be sure to check the freshness of your baking soda
• Cinnamon, allspice, and cloves – classic warm spices for fall treats
• Butter – Use salted or unsalted. Softened to room temperature. I leave it sitting on the counter for about 30 minutes.
• Water – to thin the batter slightly.
• Unsweetened applesauce – What makes this cake! Be sure not to use sweetened applesauce or the cake may be too moist and gummy from the extra sugar.
• Egg – I use one large egg at room temperature. Place it in a bowl of slightly warm water to help it reach room temperature quicker.
• Vanilla extract – Use only pure extract not imitation.

For the Cream Cheese Frosting:

• Powdered sugar – I don’t sift my powdered sugar but you can if you’d like.
• Cream cheese – Softened to room temperature. I like to place it on the oven while making the cake.
• Butter –  softened again as well for the most fluffy frosting.
• Vanilla extract

Variations to Try

Add nuts: Stir in ½ cup of chopped walnuts or pecans or add them as a topping after frosting the cake.

Add raisins: Stir in ½ cup of raisins.

How to Make Applesauce Cake (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray or vegetable oil and set aside.

Step 2: Mix the Dry Ingredients. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and spices. Set aside.

Step 3: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter until light and fluffy (about 1 minute). Add the applesauce, egg, and vanilla and mix to combine. Add the water and stir gently.

Step 4: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture. Stir until just combined - do not overmix or the cake may become dense.

Step 5: Bake the Cake. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

Allow the cake cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before frosting so the frosting doesn’t melt. 

How to Make the Cream Cheese Frosting

In a medium bowl, add cream cheese and the softened butter and beat until fluffy (about 1 minute). Then mix in the vanilla extract.

Gradually add the powdered sugar, beating until smooth and fluffy.

Spread evenly over the cooled cake.

Storing

Refrigerate: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days.

Freezer(unfrosted): Freeze the cake before frosting for up to 2 months. Thaw completely before adding frosting.

Serving: This cake is great cold or at room temperature. You can also microwave a slice for 10 seconds to slightly warm it without melting the frosting.

Can I Make This Cake Recipe Into Cupcakes?

Absolutely! Bake them 350°F for 20-22 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Use liners or grease the muffin tin well with non-stick cooking spray

How to Make This Cake Vegan

Try using a plant-based butter and an egg substitute like flax egg which can be made by mixing 1 tablespoon of flax seed meal (ground flax seed) with 3 tablespoons of water.

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