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Slice of applesauce cake topped with frosting on a white plate.
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Applesauce Cake

This cozy applesauce cake is flavored with warm spices and applesauce and topped with cinnamon cream cheese frosting. 
Course Breakfast, Dessert
Cuisine American
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 16
Calories 357kcal

Ingredients

Applesauce cake:

  • cups all purpose flour
  • teaspoons baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons apple pie spice or pumpkin pie spice
  • teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • ½ cup vegetable oil, canola oil, or melted coconut oil
  • cup water
  • cups applesauce*
  • 2 large eggs
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • 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 9x13 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

*I recommend store bought unsweetened applesauce for this recipe.
If you'd prefer to skip the cream cheese frosting you can top the cooled cake with a dusting of powdered sugar, or you can serve each slice with a drizzle of honey or dollop of whipped cream.
STORAGE: This cake can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. I have not tried freezing it, but I would assume it would freeze just fine. 
Nutrition facts include frosting.
Recipe updated slightly September 2020.

Nutrition

Calories: 357kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 50mg | Sodium: 202mg | Potassium: 69mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 37g | Vitamin A: 355IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 33mg | Iron: 1mg