Applesauce Spice Cake is the perfect cozy treat! It’s moist, full of warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, and has a subtle apple sweetness that makes it irresistible. Perfect for a fall dessert or snack!
Applesauce spice cake has quickly become one of my go-to treats! It's so simple to make, and the applesauce adds perfect moisture while the spices giving it that cozy, fall vibe. Every bite is comforting, especially when it’s fresh out of the oven with a warm cup of tea or coffee. Definitely a favorite in my kitchen!
Please leave us a comment or rating below to let us know what you think of the recipe!
Try some of our other fall favorites: Pumpkin Cheesecake, Soft and Chewy Smores Cookies, Apple Butter Texas Sheet Cake, or Pumpkin Cinnamon Roll Cake.
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What ingredients are needed for Applesauce Spice Cake?
- all purpose flour
- applesauce
- granulated sugar
- oil
- brown sugar
- eggs
- salt
- vanilla extract
- baking powder
- baking soda
- ground cinnamon
- ground nutmeg
- ground cloves
- ground allspice
- ground ginger
- powdered sugar
- cream cheese
- unsalted butter
- ground cinnamon
- vanilla extract
- milk
FAQs
It’s a moist, spiced cake made with applesauce, which adds natural sweetness and keeps the cake tender. It’s typically flavored with warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.
Definitely! Homemade or store-bought applesauce both work great. Just make sure it’s unsweetened if you want to control the sweetness of the cake.
Absolutely! Chopped nuts (like walnuts or pecans), raisins, or even chocolate chips are great additions for extra texture and flavor.
You can freeze the unfrosted cake for up to 3 months. For best results, freeze the cake without frosting, and frost it after thawing. Cream cheese frosting can change texture when frozen.
A hot cup of tea or coffee is perfect with this cake, or serve it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an extra indulgent treat!
Top Tips
- Use Unsweetened Applesauce: It helps control the sweetness of the cake and lets the spices shine. If using sweetened applesauce, reduce the sugar slightly.
- Room Temperature Ingredients: Make sure the eggs, applesauce, and butter, cream cheese (for the frosting) are at room temperature for smoother mixing and even baking.
- Don’t Overmix the Batter: Once you add the dry ingredients to the wet, mix just until combined. Overmixing can make the cake dense instead of light and fluffy.
- Frost After Cooling Completely: Make sure the cake is fully cooled before applying the frosting, or it will melt and become runny.
- Store Properly: Since the frosting contains cream cheese, store the frosted cake in the fridge, but let it sit out for 15-20 minutes before serving for the best texture.
How to make Applesauce Spice Cake
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan (or two 8-inch round pans for a layer cake).
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, ginger, allspice, and salt. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, beat oil, brown sugar, and granulated sugar. Add eggs and vanilla extract, mixing until light and fluffy. Gently mix in the applesauce. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, mixing until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan(s). Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool completely before frosting.
- In a medium bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and butter together until smooth and creamy. Gradually beat in the powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, until you reach your desired sweetness and consistency. Add the milk, ground cinnamon, and vanilla extract, beating until fully combined.
- Once the cake is completely cooled, spread or pipe the cream cheese frosting evenly over the top. If making a layer cake, frost between layers and on top. Slice and enjoy!
Applesauce Spice Cake
Ingredients
Applesauce Cake
- 2 ½ cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar, packed
- 2 cups unsweetened applesauce
- 3 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup canola or vegetable oil
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 8 oz cream cheese
- ½ cup butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoon milk or heavy cream
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan (or two 8-inch round pans for a layer cake).
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, ginger, allspice, and salt. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, beat oil, brown sugar, and granulated sugar. Add eggs and vanilla extract, mixing until light and fluffy.
- Gently mix in the applesauce. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, mixing until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan(s). Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool completely before frosting.
- In a medium bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and butter together until smooth and creamy. Gradually beat in the powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, until you reach your desired sweetness and consistency. Add the milk, ground cinnamon, and vanilla extract, beating until fully combined.
- Once the cake is completely cooled, spread or pipe the cream cheese frosting evenly over the top. If making a layer cake, frost between layers and on top. Slice and enjoy!
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