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Moist Old-Fashioned Applesauce Cake with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting

Close-up of a moist, dark slice of applesauce cake topped with thick white frosting on a small plate.
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This is a straightforward recipe for a moist, old-fashioned applesauce cake, rich with autumnal spices. It delivers comforting, nostalgic flavor and pairs perfectly with a simple cinnamon cream cheese frosting.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 1/2 cups unsweetened applesauce
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • For the Frosting:
  • 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon milk (or more, as needed)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 9×13 inch baking pan.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt. Set this dry mixture aside.
  3. In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the granulated sugar, brown sugar, and softened butter until the mixture is light and fluffy. This takes about 3 minutes.
  4. Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
  5. In a separate bowl, mix the applesauce, milk, and vanilla extract.
  6. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, alternating with the applesauce mixture, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix only until just combined; do not overmix the batter.
  7. Pour the applesauce cake batter into the prepared baking pan.
  8. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  9. Let the cake cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before frosting.
  10. To make the cinnamon cream cheese frosting, beat the softened cream cheese and butter together until smooth.
  11. Gradually beat in the powdered sugar and cinnamon until incorporated.
  12. Add the vanilla extract and 1 tablespoon of milk. Beat until the frosting is smooth and spreadable. Add more milk, one teaspoon at a time, if the frosting is too stiff.
  13. Spread the cinnamon cream cheese frosting evenly over the cooled cake.

Notes

  • For an old fashioned applesauce cake that is extra moist, use homemade applesauce if available.
  • You can substitute walnuts or pecans for applesauce cake without nuts if desired, adding them to the batter before baking.
  • This spiced applesauce cake is excellent served warm with a dusting of powdered sugar if you skip the frosting.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://dishicious.com/applesauce-cake-recipe-moist-old-fashioned/