Applesauce Cake
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Dive into this scrumptious old-fashioned Applesauce Cake! This cake is incredibly soft and moist with a delightful hint of apple and a cozy blend of warm spices. Perfect for sharing or enjoying with a cup of coffee!
Who can say no to a deliciously simple, homestyle cake that tastes just like Grandma used to bake? This is the kind of cake that brings back memories, with each bite bursting with comforting flavors. Perfect for any occasion or just because you deserve a sweet treat!
Indulge in the cozy flavors of autumn with this delightful applesauce cake! Bursting with warm spices and the perfect hint of sweetness, each slice is a celebration of comfort. Topped off with a sweet caramel glaze, it’s the ultimate treat for holiday gatherings or a cozy night in.
Whether you’re gifting it to loved ones or simply enjoying it yourself, this cake makes every bite a moment to savor. And here’s a secret—you might even find it’s so delicious that you can skip the glaze entirely! Yes, it’s that good!
Perfect for dinner parties or as a sweet treat kept in the fridge for those after-dinner cravings throughout the week. One thing’s for sure: once you try it, every slice will leave you longing for more!
Ingredients
For the ingredient measurements and the entire recipe, be sure to scroll down to the bottom of the blog post where the recipe card is located.
- All-purpose flour
- Leavening: Baking soda is used to leaven the cake.
- Spices: Salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves make the cake taste like fall.
- Butter: Unsalted butter works best!
- Sugar: Granulated sugar is used in the cake while brown sugar is used in the topping.
- Egg: You only need one large egg.
- Vanilla
- Applesauce: Unsweetened applesauce works best.
Step by Step Directions
For the full recipe instructions, scroll down to the bottom of the blog post to the recipe card.
- Combine all the dry ingredients and stir with a whisk.
- Combine all the wet ingredients and blend with a whisk.
- Combine the wet and dry ingredients and blend just until no streaks of dry flour are visible.
- Bake in an 8-inch square pan.
- Add brown sugar, heavy cream, butter, and salt to a pot.
- Bring to a boil and let cook for 1 minute.
- Add the powdered sugar and pour warm glaze over the cake.
Tips For Success
- Measure the flour correctly! Use a scale or the spoon and level method. Otherwise, the cake could turn out dry.
- Make sure all the ingredients are brought to room temperature before using them.
- Look for unsweetened applesauce. There’s sugar in the cake and adding sweetened applesauce will make it sweeter.
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Applesauce Cake
Ingredients
For the Cake
- 1 ½ cups (195 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
- ½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
- ⅔ cup (133 g) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup (244 g) unsweetened applesauce, at room temperature
For the Glaze
- ½ cup (100 g) light brown sugar, packed
- ⅓ cup (80 ml) heavy cream
- ¼ cup (57 g) unsalted butter
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup (90 g) confectioners' sugar, sifted
Instructions
Make the Cake
- Preheat the oven to 325℉. Lightly grease an 8-inch square pan and line with parchment paper leaving a slight overhang for easy removal.
- Whisk the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves together in a small bowl.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk the melted butter and sugar together until smooth. Whisk in the egg and vanilla, followed by the apple sauce.
- Add the flour mixture and gently fold with a silicone spatula just until combined.
- Spread batter evenly into prepared pan and bake for 35-40 minutes. Cool completely in the pan on a wire rack, about 1 to 2 hours. Using the overhang, lift the cake from the pan.
Make the Glaze
- Combine the brown sugar, cream, butter, and salt in a medium saucepan and set over medium heat. Bring to a full rolling boil, stirring constantly, and boil for 1 minute exactly. Remove from the heat.
- Gradually whisk in the powdered sugar until you have a thick but pourable consistency. You may not need all the sugar.
- Immediately pour the glaze over the cake, moving slowly and evenly to cover as much surface area as possible. Let the glaze set before serving.
Notes
- Measure the flour correctly! Use a scale or the spoon and level method. Otherwise, the cake could turn out dry.
- Make sure all the ingredients are brought to room temperature before using them.
- Look for unsweetened applesauce. There’s sugar in the cake and adding sweetened applesauce will make it sweeter.
- The baked and cooled cake will keep for up to 5 days covered tightly and stored in the refrigerator.
- The cake can also be frozen for up to 3 months. Bring to room temperature before serving.
Nutrition
The nutrition information provided is for convenience and as a courtesy only. It is not guaranteed to be accurate because nutrition information can vary for a variety of reasons. For precise nutritional data use your preferred nutrition calculator and input the exact ingredients and brands you used in the recipe.