This cozy applesauce cake is flavored with warm spices and applesauce and topped with cinnamon cream cheese frosting.
If you like cake that has a hint of apple flavor, plenty of cozy spices, and is equally appropriate for breakfast, snack, or dessert… this one is for YOU.
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Why you’ll love this applesauce cake
Flavor: The perfect balance of flavors from applesauce, brown sugar, vanilla, and warm spices.
Texture: This cake bakes up soft, fluffy, and moist. It’s even better on day two!
Quick & easy: This cake batter comes together in minutes with two bowls and a whisk.
Feed a crowd: This 9×13 sheet cake is great for feeding a group or a holiday celebration.
Cinnamon cream cheese frosting: Need I say more?! 😉
Key ingredients
The following ingredients are essential to making this cake the best!
- Applesauce: Adds subtle apple flavor and lots of moisture.
- Spices: Apple pie spice (which is a blend of spices) along with extra cinnamon.
- Brown sugar: Adding brown sugar to the cake batter adds a deeper, richer flavor than just granulated sugar.
- Vanilla extract: This rounds out the flavors in both the cake and the frosting.
- Cream cheese: The tanginess of cream cheese in the frosting balances wonderfully with the sweet cake.
Recipe overview
*Full recipe below in recipe card*
- Combine dry ingredients.
- Combine sugar and wet ingredients.
- Whisk together the wet and dry ingredients.
- Pour into greased pan and bake.
What kind of applesauce to use?
I recommend store bought applesauce for this recipe. This produces the most reliable outcome since most store bought varieties are similar in texture and moisture content.
I recommend unsweetened applesauce. Check the ingredients to make sure there is no added sugar or corn syrup. If you only have sweetened applesauce that is fine, just be aware that the cake will be a bit sweeter.
Serving and storage
Serve cake at room temperature for the best flavor and texture.
Store, tightly covered, in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. I have not tried freezing it, but I would assume leftovers would freeze just fine.
More apple recipes
Recipe
Applesauce Cake
Ingredients
Applesauce cake:
- 2½ cups all purpose flour
- 1½ teaspoons baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons apple pie spice or pumpkin pie spice
- 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ½ cup vegetable oil, canola oil, or melted coconut oil
- ⅓ cup water
- 1½ cups applesauce*
- 2 large eggs
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ⅓ cup light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Cinnamon cream cheese frosting:
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 3 cups powdered sugar, plus more if needed
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
Applesauce cake:
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13 cake pan and set aside.
- Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices.
- In a separate large bowl, whisk oil, water, applesauce, eggs, sugars, and vanilla. Add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and whisk to combine being careful not to overmix.
- Pour batter into prepared pan. I like to tap the pan on the countertops a few times to remove air bubbles. Bake 20-30 minutes (begin checking it at 20), until the top springs back when you touch it and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Place the pan on a rack to cool.
Cinnamon cream cheese frosting:
- Using a hand mixer or stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add the powdered sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon and beat until combined.
- Increase speed to high and beat for 20-30 seconds. Spread on the cooled cake. If desired, you can sprinkle the top of the frosting with cinnamon sugar (1 tablespoon sugar mixed with a few dashes of cinnamon).
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional Information is an estimate based on third-party calculations and may vary based on products used and serving sizes.
Tried this recipe?Leave a comment and rating below!
Alice says
This is the second time I have made this cake! We really enjoy it and each day it gets better! Nice and moist and the frosting puts it over the top! Thank you!
Allison says
You’re welcome! I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Mel says
Can you advise what spices are in the apple pie spice please? We don’t get it here in NZ.
Allison says
Hi! It’s often cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice. Sometimes a little ginger or cardamom. Here’s how you can make your own spice blend: https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/food-cooking/cooking-tips-tutorials/a36814096/apple-pie-spice-substitute/
Do says
I would like to know if it’s possible to make the applesauce at home ?
Allison says
Sure! That should be fine. Just make sure it is similar in consistency to store bought.
Davina Mull says
What is the elevation your baking in?
Allison says
I’m in the Arizona desert around 1,000 ft elevation.
JoAnn Moore says
Can you use a Bundt cake pan instead of the 9×13.
Allison says
Hi! I have two apple bundt cake recipes if you’d rather try one of those: Apple Cider Bundt Cake, Apple Bundt Cake.
Jennifer says
This cake I delicious! Nice & moist, great spice & not too sweet. I made a half recipe & put it in an 8 x 8 pan, which worked perfectly. Will certainly make again 🙂
Allison says
I’m glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for stopping by!
Jennifer says
This cake is absolutely delicious! So moist & flavorful. I did cut the recipe (both cake & frosting) in half & baked in an 8 x 8 pan, but otherwise made no changes. Perfect fall dessert.
Allison says
I’m glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
Doreen Stuchinsky says
I was looking for a way to use up some applesauce and came across your recipe. Made the cake and frosting for a sweet superbowl treat. Everyone we shared it with LOVED it. The cake was super moist and tasty & the frosting was scrumptious!! I will positively made this cake again! Thank you!
Allison says
I’m glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for taking the time to leave a review. 🙂
Suzy says
Great cake, but as I’m allergic to eggs I only put 1 in & used 1/2 cup extra of applesauce.