Applesauce Spice Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
This cake is the ultimate comfort food dream—soft, fluffy, and bursting with the warm, cozy flavors of cinnamon and applesauce. Every bite melts in your mouth, and it's all topped off with a rich, creamy layer of irresistible cream cheese frosting. Pure delight on a plate!
*This post may contain affiliate links.
This is a classic recipe that I grew up making with my family. I’ve made it so many times over the years, I practically know it by heart! This recipe is fool proof and if you follow it step by step, you’ll have a perfectly moist cake every time!
Why you’ll love applesauce spice cake with cream cheese frosting
Buttermilk keeps this cake perfectly moist, ensuring it's always light, fluffy, and never dry. As it bakes, the warm scent of cinnamon-spiced apples will fill your home with cozy, irresistible aromas. Finished with a smooth cream cheese frosting, it strikes just the right balance of sweetness—maybe a little too easy to keep going back for another slice. *wink*
Recipe Tips for the best applesauce spice cake with cream cheese frosting
It can be difficult to tell when a cake is finished baking. The best way to tell is to stick a toothpick or knife into the center of the cake and if it comes out smooth, it’s all done baking. Cake is not meant to be undercooked and undercooking a cake won’t help it be moist. Instead the cake will deflate and be noticeably runny in the center. The texture of cake is meant to be light, airy, and moist, which is exactly what this cake is! On the flip side, if you over bake the cake it can become dry and that is no fun either. The trick is to check the cake frequently when it is nearing the end of bake time, that way you catch it as soon as the knife comes out clean and not a second longer!
FAQ
-
When added to cakes, the natural moisture of applesauce creates a perfectly moist and fluffy cake, and the sweetness of applesauce pairs well with the flavors of spice cake.
-
To remove eggs from this cake, all you need to do is mix together 1 teaspoon of baking soda and 1 tablespoon of vinegar (per egg - if the recipe calls for two eggs, add 2 teaspoons of baking soda and 2 tablespoons of vinegar) and add that to the batter at the same time you would have added the eggs. This is an egg substitute that works well in cakes and other baked goods that rise and are light and airy.
-
Yes! I always use store bought applesauce because it is quick and easy. I prefer the unsweetened kind, as the cake already has added sugar in the recipe.
You can also use homemade applesauce, but again I would make it unsweetened so as not to over sugar your cake.
-
Cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger are all typically in a spice cake.
-
Absolutely! You can add any dried fruit or nuts you like, however I would suggest roughly chopping them into smaller pieces so they distribute evenly throughout the cake.
These add ins can be mixed in at the very end, right before placing the batter in the pan.
-
No. One of the great things about this cake is that it is moist enough on its own, and frosting is just an extra bonus!
Helpful Kitchen Tools
Parchment paper
Spatula
Medium mixing bowl
Large mixing bowl or stand mixer with bowl
Liquid measuring cup
Dry measuring cups
Measuring spoons
Two 9 inch round pans or One 13 inch x 9 inch pan
Ingredients
Batter
2 cups all purpose flour
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
¼ teaspoon ground cloves
¼ teaspoon ground ginger
½ cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
2 eggs
1 cup unsweetened apple sauce
¼ cup buttermilk
Frosting
16 oz cream cheese
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
How to make applesauce spice cake with cream cheese frosting
Prep
Preheat oven to 350℉. Line the pan(s) with parchment paper.
Make the cake
In a medium bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ground cloves, and ginger. Set aside.
In the bowl of an electric mixer (or a large bowl), add butter and beat for 30 seconds on medium. Add the sugar and vanilla extract and beat until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating between each addition.
Alternately add the flour mixture and the applesauce mixture to the butter mixture, mixing between each addition and scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
Divide the batter evenly between the two 9 inch pans and bake for 30 - 35 minutes (or one 13 inch x 9 inch pan and bake for 35 - 40 minutes).
To remove the cake from the pan, let it stand for about 10 minutes to cool slightly, If you were able to line the sides with parchment paper, lift it out of the pan gently. If only the bottom of the pan is lined (round pan), then run a knife around the edge of the pan, place a plate or cake display over the top of the pan and quickly flip it over. If the cake doesn't come out right away, tap the pan.
Make the Frosting
Once the cake has completely cooled (about two hours), make the frosting. Add cream cheese and butter to the bowl of an electric mixer and beat on medium for 30 seconds. Add vanilla extract and mix well. Using a metal strainer, sift the powdered sugar into the bowl and whip on medium high (start mixing slow to avoid the sugar puffing up out of the bowl) until well combined and creamy.
Frost the cake
For a layered cake - use a knife or spatula to spread an even layer of frosting over the first layer of the cake about 3/8 inches thick. Place the second cake on top and repeat. Then, gently turn the plate or cake display as you spread the frosting evenly over the sides of the cake. Make sure the cake is cool enough, otherwise the frosting will become a melting mess.
How to Store
Store applesauce spice cake with cream cheese frosting in an air tight container for up to five days in the refrigerator. Let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes prior to serving.
You can also freeze applesauce spice cake easily. Just place (fully baked and cooled, and unfrosted) in an air tight freezer container and store in the freezer for up to three months. Remove from the freezer and place in the refrigerator 24 hours prior to frosting and serving.
Applesauce Spice Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
This cake is the ultimate comfort food dream—soft, fluffy, and bursting with the warm, cozy flavors of cinnamon and applesauce. Every bite melts in your mouth, and it's all topped off with a rich, creamy layer of irresistible cream cheese frosting. Pure delight on a plate!
Ingredients
Directions
- Prep: Preheat oven to 350℉. Line the pan(s) with parchment paper.
- Make the cake: In a medium bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ground cloves, and ginger. Set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer (or a large bowl), add butter and beat for 30 seconds on medium. Add the sugar and vanilla extract and beat until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating between each addition. Alternately add the flour mixture and the applesauce mixture to the butter mixture, mixing between each addition and scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Divide the batter evenly between the two 9 inch pans and bake for 30 - 35 minutes (or one 13 inch x 9 inch pan and bake for 35 - 40 minutes). To remove the cake from the pan, let it stand for about 10 minutes to cool slightly, If you were able to line the sides with parchment paper, lift it out of the pan gently. If only the bottom of the pan is lined (round pan), then run a knife around the edge of the pan, place a plate or cake display over the top of the pan and quickly flip it over. If the cake doesn't come out right away, tap the pan.
- Make the Frosting: Once the cake has completely cooled (about two hours), make the frosting. Add cream cheese and butter to the bowl of an electric mixer and beat on medium for 30 seconds. Add vanilla extract and mix well. Using a metal strainer, sift the powdered sugar into the bowl and whip on medium high (start mixing slow to avoid the sugar puffing up out of the bowl) until well combined and creamy.
- Frost the cake: For a layered cake - use a knife or spatula to spread an even layer of frosting over the first layer of the cake about 3/8 inches thick. Place the second cake on top and repeat. Then, gently turn the plate or cake display as you spread the frosting evenly over the sides of the cake. Make sure the cake is cool enough, otherwise the frosting will become a melting mess.
*Nutrition is auto-calculated by recipes generator.
