Only make this applesauce cake if you want to seriously impress your family and friends and have them begging for more over and over! This easy Fall dessert can be made with homemade or store-bought applesauce and pairs perfectly with cream cheese frosting. Keep reading for some extra cake baking tips!
Prep Time10 minutesmins
Cook Time32 minutesmins
Additional Time2 hourshrs
Total Time2 hourshrs42 minutesmins
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: applesauce cake, cake with applesauce, spice cake
Servings: 12servings
Author: Beth
Ingredients
Cake
2 ¼cupall purpose flour
1 ½tspbaking powder
1 ½tspbaking soda
1tspsalt
2tspcinnamon
1tspnutmeg
¼tspground cloves
¼tspallspice
1cupapplesauceunsweetened or regular
1cupbrown sugarpacked
½cupvegetable oil
3large eggs
Cream cheese frosting
8ozbrick of cream cheeseroom temperature
1stickunsalted butter (1/2 cup)room temperature
1 ½tspvanilla extract
3-4cupspowdered sugar
optional: 1/8 tsp salt and dash of milk or heavy cream
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350º F. Spray a 9x13 inch pan with non-stick cooking spray.
In a small mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and allspice.
In a separate larger mixing bowl, combine the applesauce, brown sugar, vegetable oil and eggs, whisk together. Using a spatula, gently mix in the dry ingredients until just combined.
Pour the batter into the 9x13 inch pan. Bake for 30-32 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Note: if using a metal pan, the baking time may be shorter.
Allow the cake to cool for for 1 hour before adding the frosting.
Cream Cheese Frosting
Place room temperature unsalted butter and cream cheese in a mixing bowl. Use an electric mixer on medium and beat together for 1-2 minutes, until whipped and fluffy.
Add in the vanilla extract and powdered sugar (and optional salt), beat again on low for 1-2 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl, until everything is incorporated.
If the frosting is too thick, add a splash of milk or heavy cream, beat until creamy. Spread the frosting on top of the cake.
Notes
Cake baked in a metal pan may have a shorter baking time because metal heats quicker than glass. The bake time for this recipe is based on using a glass pan.
I’ve made this recipe with both regular and gluten free flour with awesome results on multiple occasions. I recommend King Arthur’s Gluten Free Measure for Measure Flour. Use it as a one for one substitute for regular flour.