The Coziest Applesauce Cake Recipe for Sweet Autumn Comfort

My grandmother’s secret applesauce cake recipe carries memories of cozy autumn afternoons.

Warm cinnamon notes drift through her kitchen, inviting comfort and nostalgia.

Soft, moist textures promise a delightful experience with every slice.

Home bakers can easily craft this simple dessert using pantry staples.

Seasonal ingredients blend seamlessly to create a rustic treat that feels like a warm embrace.

Wholesome and satisfying, this cake connects generations through its timeless charm.

Each bite whispers stories of love and tradition.

Come explore this delectable journey that will spark joy in your baking adventure.

Applesauce Cake: Preserve Flavor and Moisture

• Store leftover cake in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, keeping the frosting fresh and moist.
• Wrap individual slices or the whole cake tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil, then freeze for up to 3 months to preserve its delicious flavor.
• Remove frozen cake from the freezer and let it defrost in the refrigerator overnight, ensuring the texture remains soft and tender.
• Warm individual slices in the microwave for 15-20 seconds or in a preheated oven at 300°F for 5-7 minutes to enjoy a just-baked taste.

Sweet Sips For Applesauce Cake

• Pair with Warm Spiced Chai Latte: Complement the cake's cozy spices with a creamy, aromatic chai that echoes the cinnamon and nutmeg notes, creating a harmonious flavor experience.
• Serve alongside Vanilla Bean Ice Cream: Balance the cake's warm, dense texture with a cool, smooth scoop of premium vanilla bean ice cream, enhancing the dessert's richness and providing delightful temperature contrast.
• Match with Caramel Drizzle Coffee: Elevate the cake's sweetness with a robust coffee featuring a silky caramel drizzle, which highlights the cake's deep, autumnal flavor profile and adds depth to each bite.
• Pair with Spiced Mulled Cider: Connect the cake's apple and spice elements with a warm, traditional mulled cider that intensifies the dessert's comforting seasonal essence and brings out its subtle fruit undertones.

Old-Fashioned Applesauce Cake Twists

• Gluten-Free Applesauce Cake: Replace wheat flour with a gluten-free blend, ensuring the cake remains moist and tender while accommodating those with wheat sensitivities.
• Vegan Apple Spice Cake: Substitute eggs with mashed bananas or flax eggs, use plant-based butter and cream cheese alternatives for the frosting, creating a dairy-free and egg-free version.
• Low-Sugar Applesauce Cake: Reduce granulated and brown sugar, swap with monk fruit sweetener or stevia, and use unsweetened applesauce to create a diabetic-friendly dessert with lower caloric content.
• Nut-Free Autumn Cake: Omit walnuts or pecans completely, adding optional seeds like pumpkin seeds for texture, making the cake safe for those with nut allergies while maintaining the warm spice profile.

FAQs

• What are the key spices in this applesauce cake?

The key spices are cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves, which create a warm, rich flavor profile that gives the cake its delicious autumn-like taste.

• Can I make this cake without nuts?

Yes, the nuts are optional. You can easily skip adding walnuts or pecans without affecting the cake’s overall texture and taste.

• Is this cake good for people who like less sweet desserts?

Absolutely! The applesauce naturally adds sweetness, so the cake isn’t overly sugary. The spices provide more depth of flavor than pure sweetness.

• How can I tell if the cake is fully baked?

Insert a toothpick into the center of the cake. If it comes out clean with no wet batter, the cake is done. The baking time is typically 30-35 minutes at 350°F.

Applesauce Cake That’s Soft Spiced And Comforting

• Quick and Easy Baking: Whip up this applesauce cake with minimal kitchen skills and maximum deliciousness in under an hour.
• Crowd-Pleasing Comfort: Packed with warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, this cake delivers a nostalgic, homey flavor that appeals to all ages.
• Family-Friendly Dessert: Perfect for potlucks, weeknight treats, or weekend gatherings, the recipe uses simple ingredients found in most pantries.
• Versatile Treat: Adaptable for various occasions from casual family dinners to holiday celebrations, with optional nut additions for extra texture.

Applesauce Cake Batter Mix

• All-Purpose Flour: Provides structure and base for the cake, choose unbleached for better texture.
• Baking Powder, Baking Soda: Helps cake rise and become light and fluffy.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances sweetness.
• Cinnamon, Ginger, Nutmeg, Cloves: Warm spices that add depth and classic fall flavor profile.

• Applesauce: Adds moisture and natural sweetness, use unsweetened for better control of sugar.
• Vegetable Oil: Keeps cake tender and moist, neutral flavor works best.
• Granulated Sugar, Brown Sugar: Provides sweetness and helps with caramelization.
• Eggs: Binds ingredients and adds richness, room temperature works better.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds complex flavor depth, pure vanilla is recommended.

• Butter, Cream Cheese: Creates rich, smooth base for frosting, softened at room temperature.
• Powdered Sugar: Provides sweetness and helps thicken frosting.
• Cinnamon: Adds warm spice to complement cake's flavor.

• Walnuts, Pecans: Adds crunch and nutty flavor, toast before adding for enhanced taste.

Applesauce Cake Baking Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the Oven

Warm up your oven to a cozy 350°F.

Grab a 9×13-inch baking dish and give it a light coating of grease to prevent sticking.

Step 2: Create Dry Ingredient Blend

• All-purpose flour
• Baking powder
• Baking soda
• Salt
• Ground cinnamon
• Ground ginger
• Nutmeg
• Ground cloves

Whisk these ingredients until they’re perfectly combined and look like a fragrant winter landscape.

Step 3: Craft Wet Ingredient Symphony

• Applesauce
• Eggs
• Vegetable oil
• Granulated sugar
• Brown sugar
• Vanilla extract

Stir until the mixture looks silky and well-integrated.

Step 4: Marry the Ingredients

Slowly introduce the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredients.

Gently fold everything together until just combined.

If you’re feeling nutty, fold in some chopped walnuts or pecans for extra crunch.

Step 5: Bake to Perfection

Pour the batter into your prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly.

Slide the dish into the preheated oven and bake for 30-35 minutes.

The cake is ready when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Step 6: Cool Down

Let the cake rest and cool completely in the baking dish.

Patience is key here!

Step 7: Prepare Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting

• Softened butter
• Cream cheese

Blend until smooth and creamy.

Add a dash of cinnamon and vanilla extract, mixing thoroughly.

Step 8: Sweeten the Frosting

Gradually incorporate powdered sugar, beating until the frosting becomes fluffy and luxurious.

Step 9: Frost with Flair

Once the cake has cooled completely, spread the cinnamon cream cheese frosting generously across the top.

Step 10: Serve and Savor

Slice the cake into 12-15 delectable pieces.

Grab a fork and enjoy every single bite of this homemade goodness!

Cake Tips With Sweet Applesauce Notes

• Use unsweetened applesauce to control sugar levels while keeping the cake incredibly moist and tender.
• Toast ground spices briefly in a dry pan before adding to intensify their warm, rich flavors and create a more complex taste profile.
• Toss chopped walnuts or pecans in a tablespoon of flour before folding into batter to prevent them from dropping to the bottom during baking.
• Stir dry and wet ingredients just until combined to ensure a soft, tender cake texture without developing tough gluten strands.
• Add milk or cream one teaspoon at a time if frosting seems too thick, allowing you to achieve the perfect spreadable texture.

Applesauce Cake Recipe

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4.5 from 32 reviews

• Total Time: 50 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

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Description

Warm spices dance through this classic Applesauce Cake, inviting comfort with each tender crumb. Homemade goodness fills your kitchen with nostalgic aromas, promising a delightful slice of sweet, spiced perfection.

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Ingredients

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Cake Ingredients:

Flour and Leavening Agents:

• 2 1/2 cups (595 ml) all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon (5 ml) baking powder
• 1 teaspoon (5 ml) baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 ml) salt

Wet Ingredients and Sweeteners:

• 2 cups (473 ml) unsweetened applesauce
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup (237 ml) vegetable oil
• 3/4 cup (150 g) granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup (165 g) light brown sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons (7.5 ml) vanilla extract

Spices and Optional Nuts:

• 1 tablespoon (15 ml) ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 ml) ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 ml) ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon (1.25 ml) ground cloves
• 3/4 cup (84 g) chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)

Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients:

• 1 cup (227 g) unsalted butter
• 8 ounces (226 g) cream cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 ml) ground cinnamon
• 1 1/2 teaspoons (7.5 ml) vanilla extract
• 3 1/2 cups (420 g

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Instructions

1. Prepare the oven environment by heating to 350°F (175°C) and coating a 9×13-inch baking vessel with lubricant to prevent adhesion.
2. Aggregate dry components in a spacious mixing receptacle, thoroughly combining flour, leavening agents, salt, and aromatic spices through vigorous whisking to ensure uniform distribution.
3. Create a liquid foundation by blending applesauce, eggs, petroleum-based cooking fat, crystalline sweeteners, and flavor enhancer until achieving a harmonious, silky consistency.
4. Merge liquid and powdery mixtures gently, incorporating movements that minimize gluten development, ensuring ingredients are just integrated.
5. Introduce optional nutty elements like walnuts or pecans through delicate folding techniques.
6. Transfer the transformed mixture into prepared baking receptacle, distributing evenly across the surface.
7. Position in preheated thermal chamber, allowing culinary transformation for approximately 30-35 minutes until internal structural integrity confirms completion through clean toothpick extraction.
8. Permit thermal equilibration, allowing cake to rest and stabilize at ambient temperature within original baking container.
9. Construct frosting by whipping dairy-based fats until achieving cloud-like smoothness, progressively introducing cream cheese, aromatic spices, and sweet pulverized crystals.
10. Execute final embellishment by spreading creamy topping across completely cooled confectionery surface.
11. Segment into elegant portions, presenting a delectable autumnal-inspired delicacy ready for consumption.

Notes

• Swap applesauce for mashed bananas or pumpkin puree to create different flavor variations and keep the cake moist.
• Replace vegetable oil with Greek yogurt or unsweetened applesauce for a healthier, lower-fat version that maintains the cake’s tender texture.
• Toast nuts before adding to enhance their nutty flavor and provide a delightful crunch that elevates the overall taste profile of the cake.
• Use gluten-free flour blend to make the recipe celiac-friendly without compromising the cake’s soft, delectable texture.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 389
• Sugar: 34 g
• Sodium: 240 mg
• Fat: 19 g
• Saturated Fat: 3 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 52 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 4 g
• Cholesterol: 40 mg