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Applesauce Cake

Applesauce cake with a moist golden-brown crumb and a cinnamon-spiced batter baked until toothpick-clean. Finished with a light, swirled cream cheese frosting for a classic American dessert slice.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 12 servings
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 420
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Applesauce cake
  • 2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1.5 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 0.5 tsp allspice
  • 0.25 tsp cloves
  • 0.25 tsp salt
  • 0.5 lb unsalted butter softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 0.5 cup brown sugar packed
  • 2 eggs
  • 1.5 cup unsweetened applesauce
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup walnuts or raisins (optional) optional
Cream cheese frosting
  • 8 oz cream cheese
  • 0.25 cup butter
  • 2 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Bake the applesauce cake
  1. Preheat the oven to 350F and grease a 9x13 pan.
  2. Whisk together all-purpose flour, baking soda, cinnamon, allspice, cloves, and salt.
  3. Beat unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until fluffy.
  4. Add eggs and vanilla extract, then beat just until combined.
  5. Stir in unsweetened applesauce.
  6. Fold in the flour mixture until just combined.
  7. Fold in walnuts or raisins if using.
  8. Bake for 35-40 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.
  9. Cool the cake completely before frosting.
Make and spread cream cheese frosting
  1. Beat cream cheese frosting ingredients until light and fluffy.
  2. Spread the cream cheese frosting over the cooled cake.

Notes

For the moistest texture, fold the flour mixture just until no dry streaks remain. Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days; freeze frosted slices for up to 2 months (thaw overnight in the fridge). If you want a lighter option, swap half of the butter in both cake and frosting for a 1:1 baking spread and proceed normally.