This delicious and moist Applesauce Cake combines the flavors of applesauce, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves, all topped with a delicious five-ingredient cinnamon cream cheese frosting.
I love to take this cake to potlucks, family reunions, and neighborhood shindigs. It has so much incredible apple flavor and is even better the day after it has been baked. I think I have mentioned a time or two that fall is my favorite time of the year. It will be here before you know it, and with it comes everything apple.
If your family is anything like mine, apple desserts are always a huge hit. This cake, apple cobbler, apple brown betty, and crock pot apple butter are just a few family and friends’ favorite apple recipes.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
See the complete list of ingredients below on the recipe card.
- Spices: ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. If desired, add a couple of pinches of ground ginger or allspice.
- Applesauce: unsweetened, all-natural
- Oil: Vegetable or canola
- Vanilla Extract: the pure stuff, please
- Nuts: walnuts or pecans
- Butter: unsalted or salted. If using salted butter, eliminate the added salt in the frosting.
How to Make Applesauce Cake
This is the summary version; see the recipe card below for the complete list of ingredients and the instructions.
Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ground cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves in a medium bowl. In a large mixing bowl, combine the applesauce, eggs, vegetable oil, sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla extract.
Now, add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients in several increments, mixing just until combined. Then fold in the walnuts and pecans if using. Pour the mixture into a 9×13 baking pan, greased and floured or sprayed with nonstick baking spray. Bake for about 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. Move the pan to a wire rack to cool.
Using a stand mixer with a paddle attachment or a hand-held electric mixer, beat together the butter, cream cheese, cinnamon, salt, and vanilla extract until light, fluffy, and smooth. Turn the mixer to low and gradually add the powdered sugar, beating until well combined. Scrape down the bowl and beaters as needed. Spread on the fully-cooled cake. Because of the cream cheese frosting, this cake should be refrigerated.
Preparation Tips
- If possible, use unsweetened applesauce, as sugar is already in the recipe.
- Do not over-mix the cake batter, as this can make it tough. Mix just until combined.
- This moist applesauce cake is even more delicious the day after baking, so plan accordingly.
- Thoroughly cool the cake before frosting. This can take several hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
The cake is done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. Do not overbake this cake.
This cake tastes better on the second day. Bake it up to 24 hours in advance. Prepare and spread the frosting on the day of serving. Once the cake is frosted, store it covered in the refrigerator until it is ready to serve. Store any leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days.
With a cream cheese frosting, this cake should be stored in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Leftovers covered with plastic wrap can be stored in the fridge for up to four days.
Cover the baking dish with two layers of plastic wrap and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and store it covered in the fridge.
More Apple Desserts
Applesauce Cake Recipe
Ingredients
Cake
- 2½ cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- 2 cups applesauce (unsweetened, all-natural)
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup light brown sugar
- 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- ¾ cup chopped walnuts or pecans optional
Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 8 ounces of cream cheese softened
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3½ cups powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 9×13-inch baking dish
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, ground nutmeg, and ground cloves.
- In a large bowl, combine the applesauce, eggs, vegetable oil, sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla extract.
- Add the dry mixture to the wet mixture in several increments mixing just until combined. Fold in the walnuts and pecans if using. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. Move the pan to a wire rack to fully cool.
- Using a stand mixer with a paddle attachment or a hand-held electric mixer, beat together the butter, cream cheese, cinnamon, salt, and vanilla extract until light, fluffy and smooth. Turn the mixer to low and gradually add the powdered sugar, beating until well combined. Scrape down the bowl and beaters as needed.
- Spread the frosting on the fully-cooled cake. This cake should be refrigerated because of the cream cheese frosting.
Video
Notes
- If possible, use unsweetened applesauce, as sugar is already in the recipe.
- Do not over-mix the cake batter, as this can make it tough. Mix just until combined.
- This moist applesauce cake is even more delicious the day after baking, so plan accordingly.
- Thoroughly cool the cake before frosting. This can take several hours.
- This cake should be stored in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Leftovers covered with plastic wrap can be stored in the fridge for up to four days.
Nutrition
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Yvonne
I can’t wait to give this applesauce cake a try. Apple cakes are a favorite of mine, I love the sweetness that it adds. Sounds delicious!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Yvonne! Enjoy!
Marley
Wow this is such a fantastic, moist cake! I love apple flavored things – thank you for sharing your recipe.
AJ
Now I’ve added applesauce to my cake mix when I ran out of eggs, but I have never tried an applesauce cake before! This looks like a tasty idea I need to try asap!!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, AJ! Enjoy!
Kat
The five ingredient cinnamon cream cheese frosting was the perfect topping. Using unsweetened applesauce kept the sweetness balanced without being too heavy.
PJ
Can this be baked in a bundt pan? Thanks.
Beth Pierce
I have not tested it but a 9×13 cake will fill a 10-12 cup bundt pan. The baking time will increase by at least 10 minutes. The frosting will be too thick for the cake.
Melanie E
Oh wow, yes please. I haven’t had an apple sauce cake before although I have made cakes with actual apple chunks. This sounds both interesting and tasty. I do love the sound of the cinnamon cream cheese frosting too, heaven!!!!!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Melanie! Enjoy!
Karen
I baked the applesauce cake for my niece’s birthday and it turned out DELICIOUS…Was soooo good and moist. Thank you so much.
Beth Pierce
My pleasure, Karen!
Claire
This was absolutely delicious. Crumble is always my go to when it comes to cooking with apples, but this was actually amazing. Thank you for the recipe.
Beth Pierce
The pleasure is all mine, Claire!
Lori Lukens
This is my all time favorite apple cake. My mom passed this down to me when I started baking. It’s simply amazing..just remember to soak your raisins in warm water then drain the extra water off when you incorporate them in the batter..and to roast your chopped nuts as well. It will enhance their flavors when the cake is done..
Beth Pierce
Thanks for the tips, Lori!
DebG
Delicious cake and frosting! Didn’t use the nuts, just because. I think I would try it again with nuts to take to a party. Also, might try adding raisins next time for the raisin lovers in my family. I couldn’t wait until the next day to try and thought it was delicious! I did use a 24 oz jar of applesauce, because that is what I had. Cooked for 35 minutes. Will definitely make again.
Beth Pierce
Hey Deb, so happy that you liked it. Thanks for the reminder about the raisins.
Kelly
I love apple in cakes, apple crumble etc. This was so darn tasty. I wish I had a piece right now but my family devoured it.