Old-Fashioned Applesauce Cake Recipe has been a family favorite for generations! Moist and delicious, this easy spice cake can be made with raisins and nuts for added flavor and texture. The warm spices like cinnamon and cloves are perfect for the fall and winter. However, this cake is ideal for any time of the year!
This Applesauce Spice Cake was from my mom's recipe box. This and her Raw Apple Cake are both super easy and delicious!
Applesauce Cake Ingredients
- Applesauce - I use store bought, unsweetened applesauce for this cake. It adds both moisture and flavor to this recipe.
- Brown Sugar and Granulated Sugar - The combination of both sugars bring sweetness and a rich flavor.
- Canola Oil and Egg - Brings moisture and structure to the cake.
- Vanilla - Cloves - Allspice - Cinnamon - Vanilla along with these warm apple pie spices add warmth and bring everything together.
- Frosting - Mom my often served this cake with a dusting of powdered Sugar. You can also use your favorite plain white or cream cheese frosting.
How to make Applesauce Cake
Preheat the oven and prepare a 13 by 9-inch cake pan or dish by spraying it with non-stick cooking spray or lining with parchment paper.
Whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, cloves, and allspice in a medium-sized bowl.
In a separate bowl, add the egg and lightly whisk. Then add the brown sugar, granulated sugar, canola oil, vanilla, and applesauce. Mix until thoroughly blended.
Pour the dry ingredients in with the wet ingredients and mix until the applesauce cake batter is blended.
Pour the mixed cake batter into the prepared baking pan.
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Bake the applesauce spice cake until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the center of the cake. Let cool.
Use your favorite buttercream or cream cheese frosting if desired. Or, lightly dust with powdered sugar.
Mom Tip
This is a great recipe to use if your kids are showing an interest in baking. Little ones can help with the measuring and mixing, and older kids can bake this with little guidance. Homemade instead of using a box mix is always fun!
Applesauce Cake FAQs
I always use unsweetened since this recipe calls for both granulated and brown sugar. If you only have sweetened applesauce available, decrease the amount of the other sugars by half.
Yes. Do not frost the cake, and wrap it well before freezing. It will last for up to 3 months in the freezer.
If you are using a cream cheese frosting, I recommend storing it in the refrigerator. Otherwise, you can leave it at room temperature, covered, for up to 3 days.
Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟rating on the recipe card below & a review in the comments section further down the page.
Complete Recipe
Applesauce Cake Recipe
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups All-purpose Flour
- 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
- 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon Cloves
- ¼ teaspoon Allspice
Wet Ingredients
- 1 Egg
- ½ cup Brown Sugar
- ½ cup Granulated Sugar
- ½ cup Canola Oil
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla
- 1 cup Applesauce unsweetened
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350° F.
- Prepare a 13" by 9" baking dish by spraying with nonstick spray or lining with parchment paper.
- In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, cloves, and allspice.
- In a large bowl beat the egg. Add the sugars, oil, vanilla, and applesauce. Mix well.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix just until blended.
- Bake the cake 23-28 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the center of the cake. Let the cake cool.
- Frost if desired.
Lisa says
I found this posting of yours completely by chance. You know how you start clicking away on a search and it up forgetting what you were even searching for in the first place? I have an applesauce cake I have made for years but when I started to read through yours, it brought me to tears. I now have grandchildren of my own and I wish my mom was still here. I always feel closest to her when I am in kitchen...I think she must love your applesauce cake!
Anonymous says
I use a simular recipe and it IS very good. We add raisins and use cream cheese frosting. 🙂
Cook This Again says
I remember my mom making this cake when I was a little girl. She used raisins, but my daughter doesn't like them. Cream cheese frosting would be delicious on it. 🙂