Applesauce Cake Recipe
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This applesauce cake is what you’ll be dreaming about all fall once you get a taste. It’s moist, fluffy, and packed with cozy fall flavors. The cake is naturally sweetened with applesauce and flavored with warm spices, then topped with a smooth and creamy frosting made with cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla. It’s an outrageously delicious fall dessert that’s as perfect for all your holiday celebrations as it is for a cozy night in.
I’m always on the lookout for new dessert recipes to try, especially when fall comes around and all the delicious seasonal flavors inspire me to fire up my oven. One of my favorite ingredients to use for fall baking? Fresh, crisp apples! I make plenty of apple desserts throughout the season and make-ahead a large batch of slow cooker applesauce to brighten up our meals. The newest addition to the lineup is applesauce cake.
With its warm notes of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves paired with the natural sweetness of applesauce, this cake feels like a cozy hug. Whether you’re a fan of simple, rustic desserts or looking for a crave-worthy treat that brings all the fall vibes, this recipe delivers in every way. It’s a fantastic dessert for holiday gatherings, a lovely addition to a brunch spread, or even a satisfying mid-afternoon snack when you’re craving something sweet but not overly indulgent.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy recipe: All you need is 10 minutes of prep time. This delightful cake is easy and straightforward to make, even for beginners.
- Simple, wholesome ingredients: This recipe requires quite a number of ingredients, but all are easy to find and you most likely already have them all at home!
- Best fall flavors: The combination of apples and warm spices is heavenly. Add the sweet cream cheese frosting and you get an insanely delicious fall (or year-round) treat.
- Perfect texture: This cake comes out soft, fluffy, and moist, thanks to the applesauce. No dry cakes allowed in this household!
- Perfect for a crowd: This cake can feed a crowd, making it ideal for family meals and for entertaining.
- Make-ahead friendly: Bake it in advance and have a delicious dessert ready for when you need it.
How to Make Applesauce Cake
Nothing beats a delicious cake made from scratch, and this applesauce cake is no exception. It’s just like Grandma would have made. Plus, making this applesauce cake is a breeze – in just 40 minutes or less you’ll have a warm, homemade cake to enjoy.
Scroll to the bottom of this post for a printable recipe card with a full list of ingredients, measurements, and step-by-step instructions.
Ingredients You Need
For cake:
- All-purpose flour: Forms the base of the cake, providing structure and a tender crumb.
- Ground cinnamon: Adds warmth and a signature spice that complements the applesauce.
- Ground ginger: Deepens the flavor and adds complexity to the cake’s spice profile.
- Ground nutmeg: Brings subtle sweetness, enhancing the cozy flavor.
- Ground cloves: Provides a deep, slightly sweet, and aromatic hint of spice.
- Baking soda and baking powder: These leavening agents make the cake rise and create a fluffy cake texture.
- Salt
- White and brown sugar: Granulated sugar adds a neutral sweetness, while the brown sugar adds more moisture and flavor to the cake.
- Eggs: Provide structure and moisture, binding the ingredients together.
- Unsweetened applesauce: Acts as a primary flavor and a natural sweetener while keeping the cake moist. I use natural unsweetened applesauce, but you can use homemade or store-bought with sweetener.
- Butter: I like using melted butter, but others often make this with vegetable oil. You can use whatever you like as long as it’s melted beforehand.
- Vanilla extract: Adds a nice flavor to the cake and helps round out the sweetness.
- Walnuts: For that delightful crunch.
- Raisins: Provide bursts of sweetness and a chewy texture.
For frosting:
- Cream cheese: Use full-fat cream cheese for the best taste and texture. I don’t recommend using low-fat.
- Butter
- Powdered sugar: Adds a touch of sweetness and gives the frosting a smooth consistency.
- Vanilla extract
Step-By-Step Instructions
Only 4 simple steps stand between you and this amazing applesauce cake! We’ll make the cake batter, pop it in the oven, whip up the frosting and top the cake with it, and serve.
This recipe is perfect for busy days, last-minute get-togethers, or whenever you need a quick, delicious dessert to enjoy at home.
Step 1: Make the cake batter
Preheat the oven to 350 F. Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
Mix the flour, spices, baking soda, baking powder and salt together in a medium mixing bowl. Set aside. Next, beat the eggs and sugars together with an electric mixer at medium speed. Add applesauce, butter, and vanilla to the egg and sugar. Blend well to combine.
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Fold gently to combine. Fold in walnuts and raisins.
Step 2: Bake the cake
Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and spread it out evenly with a spatula. Bake for 30 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Leave to cool completely on a wire rack.
Step 3: Make the frosting
Once cool, prepare the frosting by creaming the cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract together on low speed until combined. Increase the speed to high and whip for 4 minutes until light and fluffy.
Step 4: Slice and serve
Spread frosting over the top of the cake before cutting into slices and serving. Enjoy!
Substitutions
Since this recipe requires quite a number of ingredients, chances are that you may be missing some. Don’t worry, you can use ingredients that you love or have on hand. Here are my substitution recommendations:
- All-purpose flour: I like to use all-purpose flour because it makes the cake light and fluffy, but you can substitute with whole wheat if not available. You can use a 1:1 gluten-free flour substitute.
- Warm spices: If you want to play around with different warm spices for a slightly different flavor profile, I suggest using a pumpkin pie spice mix. I consider cinnamon a must, but you play around other spices according to your preference. Apple pie spice and allspice are also ideal.
- Vanilla extract: No vanilla extract? Try vanilla bean paste or almond extract.
- Walnuts: Chopped almonds, pecans, and hazelnuts, are ideal substitutes if you don’t have pecans on hand.
- Raisins: If you don’t have raisins, substitute with dried cranberries or chopped dates.
Expert Tips
- Adjust the spice levels: Adjust the amount of warm spices to your preference. If you love more spice, add extra cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, or cloves for a deeper flavor.
- Customize: Applesauce cake is delicious served plain, it’s like a quick bread! Personally I like it with the cream cheese frosting, but you can customize the topping – try a dusting of powdered sugar, a glaze, or coconut whipped cream.
- Chill before spreading: If the frosting feels too soft to spread, chill it in the fridge for 15 to 20 minutes to firm it up slightly.
- Use a piping bag: If serving at a party, use a piping bag for the frosting for a cleaner finish, or simply swirl the frosting with a spatula for a rustic feel.
- Serve warm or cold: I prefer my applesauce cake warm, but I found that many enjoy it cold or at room temperature. I like to ask family and friends how they like it beforehand so I can prep accordingly.
How to Store This Recipe
Place frosted or unfrosted applesauce cake in an airtight container and store at room temperature, preferably away from direct sunlight, for up to 3 days. If it’s warm in your area, store frosted cake in the refrigerator. Bring refrigerated cake to room temperature before serving.
To freeze, cool unfrosted cake completely, wrap in plastic wrap, and keep in the freezer for up to 1 month. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before frosting or serving.
What to Serve with Applesauce Cake
Serve applesauce cake plain or topped with cream cheese frosting, a scoop of vanilla or chai ice cream, a drizzle of caramel sauce, or a dollop whipped cream. Enjoy as a dessert after your favorite mains, like Popeyes blackened chicken tenders or pineapple teriyaki pork chops. Pair it with your favorite fall coffee, spiced tea, or any seasonal drink.
More Dessert Recipes To Try
- Apple cinnamon cake
- Cinnamon rolls
- Chocolate chip cookies without brown sugar
- Chai ice cream
- Saiki K coffee jelly
If you make this applesauce cake, please leave a review. I really appreciate each and every 5-star rating and review comment!
The Easiest Applesauce Cake Recipe
Ingredients
For cake:
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 cups unsweetened applesauce
- ¾ cup butter melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup walnuts chopped
- 1 cup raisins
For frosting:
- 8 ounce cream cheese softened
- 1 cup butter softened
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 °F. Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Mix the flour, spices, baking soda, baking powder and salt together in a medium mixing bowl. Set aside. Beat the eggs and sugars together with an electric mixer at medium speed. Add applesauce, butter, and vanilla to the egg and sugar. Blend well to combine.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Fold gently to combine. Fold in walnuts and raisins.
- Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and spread it out evenly with a spatula. Bake for 30 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Leave to cool completely on a wire rack.
- Once cool, prepare the frosting by creaming the cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract together on low speed until combined. Increase the speed to high and whip for 4 minutes until light and fluffy.
- Spread frosting over the top of the cake before cutting into slices and serving.
Video
Notes
- Adjust the amount of warm spices to your preference. If you love more spice, add extra cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, or cloves for a deeper flavor.
- Serve applesauce cake plain or customize the topping – try the cream cheese frosting in this recipe, a dusting of powdered sugar, a glaze, or coconut whipped cream.
- If the frosting feels too soft to spread, chill it in the fridge for 15 to 20 minutes to firm it up slightly.
- If serving at a party, use a piping bag for the frosting for a cleaner finish, or simply swirl the frosting with a spatula for a rustic feel.
- Serve warm, cold, or at room temperature. Ask family and friends how they like it beforehand to prep the cake accordingly.
