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applesauce cake recipe

Applesauce Cake

Prep 15 minutes
Cook 45 minutes
Total 1 hour
With warm spices and moist texture! So comforting, so nostalgic. A wholesome cake with cozy vibes!
4 stars (1 ratings)
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Ingredients
  

For the cake:

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ½ cup unsalted butter , softened (substitute: coconut oil for dairy-free option)
  • 1 cup granulated sugar (substitute: coconut sugar for a lower glycemic option)
  • 2 large eggs , room temperature
  • 1 ½ cups unsweetened applesauce
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
  • ½ cup raisins (optional, can substitute dried cranberries)

For the cinnamon glaze:

  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 2-3 tablespoons milk or apple cider
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  • Step 1: Prepare Your Equipment
    Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9x9-inch square baking pan or a 9-inch round cake pan. Pro tip: Line the bottom with parchment paper for effortless removal after baking.
    Step 2: Mix Dry Ingredients
    In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves until well combined. This spice blend creates the signature warm flavor profile that makes applesauce cake recipe so beloved. For extra flavor complexity, toast your spices in a dry pan for 30 seconds before adding.
    Step 3: Cream Butter and Sugar
    In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes. Don't skimp on this step – it creates air pockets that help your cake rise beautifully.
    Step 4: Add Eggs and Vanilla
    Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract. If your eggs are cold, place them in warm water for 5 minutes before cracking to bring them to room temperature quickly.
    Step 5: Incorporate Applesauce
    Gently fold in the applesauce. The mixture might look slightly curdled – this is completely normal! The applesauce's acidity reacts with the dairy, but everything will come together perfectly during baking.
    Step 6: Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients
    Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring just until combined. Overmixing activates the gluten in the flour, resulting in a tougher cake, so use gentle folding motions until no flour streaks remain visible.
    Step 7: Add Optional Mix-ins
    If using, fold in the chopped nuts and raisins. For a gourmet twist, try soaking your raisins in warm apple juice for 15 minutes before adding them to the batter for extra plumpness and flavor.
    Step 8: Transfer to Baking Pan
    Pour the batter into your prepared pan, spreading it evenly with a spatula. Tap the pan gently on the counter a few times to release any trapped air bubbles.
    Step 9: Bake to Perfection
    Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean with a few moist crumbs. The cake should pull away slightly from the sides of the pan when done.
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