This easy, old-fashioned applesauce cake is the perfect dessert for fall. The moist, fluffy spice cake is packed with chopped apples in every bite. It will remind you of something out of grandma’s kitchen!
If you’re looking for a flavorful and easy-to-make fall dessert, you have to try this applesauce cake recipe.
This simple recipe, inspired by one I found in an old church cookbook, features chopped apples, applesauce, cinnamon and nutmeg. It can be served as a dessert after a meal or as a stand-in for coffee cake. The texture is a cross between a cake and applesauce bread.
I recommend using Homemade Applesauce for this fresh apple cake. Be sure you save some to make this Homemade Applesauce Pie, too! This cake pairs well with a Spiked Chai Latte or this Starbucks copycat Caramel Apple Cider.
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❤️ Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This yummy applesauce spice cake recipe comes together so quickly. The most time consuming part is peeling and chopping the apples.
The cake goes from the mixing bowl to the oven in minutes, and it bakes in less than an hour. You don’t even have to break out an electric mixer to make it!
While some recipes use applesauce as a substitute for oil and eggs, this recipe contains all three ingredients. The combination makes for a very spongy cake with a moist crumb.
Want to see a brief overview of the process before diving into the recipe? Watch my web story on how to make old fashioned applesauce spice cake.
🍎 Ingredients for Applesauce Cake
This recipe calls for basic pantry and fridge staples. To make it, you will need:
- Vegetable oil – Canola oil may also be used.
- Granulated sugar – Use plain old white, granulated sugar.
- All-purpose flour – Use regular all-purpose flour, not cake flour.
- Sweetened applesauce – Homemade is best, but store-bought will also work. I use this homemade cinnamon applesauce for the cake, omitting the cinnamon in the applesauce recipe so the spice flavor isn’t overwhelming.
- Eggs – You’ll need three large eggs to make this cake.
- Baking powder & baking soda – You’ll need both to help the cake rise.
- Salt – I recommend table salt for this recipe.
- Vanilla – I like to use real vanilla extract when baking.
- Spices – This cake includes ground cinnamon and a touch of freshly grated nutmeg.
- Apples – In addition to the applesauce, you’ll need two or three chopped baking apples for the batter. I’ve tested this recipe with Honeycrisp and Gala apples, and both added nice apple flavor and texture.
See recipe card for exact quantities.
How to Make Applesauce Cake
- In a large bowl, whisk together the vegetable oil, eggs, applesauce and vanilla.
- Sift the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and sugar into the applesauce mixture.
- Add the cinnamon and nutmeg.
- Mix until just combined, being careful not to overwork the batter.
- Fold in 3 cups of peeled, chopped apples.
- Pour batter into a greased or parchment lined 9X9 pan. Bake for 45 to 55 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
- Allow the cake to cool on a wire rack for at least 10 minutes before cutting into it.
Cooking times may vary, depending on your oven, so I recommend peeking in on the cake at the 45-minute mark. If the center is not done, you may want to cover the edges with foil to prevent overbrowning.
💭 Serving Tips
- Ideally, it’s best to let the cake cool completely before serving. But it’s really hard to resist this one when it’s still warm from the oven!
- Sometimes, I’ll heat up a slice in the microwave, for that freshly baked experience!
- No frosting is needed, but you can sprinkle on some powdered sugar or serve applesauce cake with a dollop of whipped cream for more sweetness.
- The texture of this cake is similar to banana bread, so you can serve it for breakfast or at brunch, as you might a coffee cake.
Variations & Substitutions
- Don’t have time to make homemade applesauce? Storebought is fine.
- Use unsweetened applesauce for a cake that is less sweet.
- Substitute ground cloves, ground ginger or ground allspice for the nutmeg for a different flavor profile.
- Canola oil may be substituted for vegetable oil.
- If you like nuts, try adding ½ to 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts with the apples.
- You can add ½ to 1 cup raisins in place of some of the chopped apples in the recipe.
Equipment
This recipe requires no special equipment — not even a mixer!
You will need a few kitchen basics:
- Dry measuring cups – Use these for the flour and sugar.
- Measuring spoons – Use for the salt, vanilla, spices, baking powder and baking soda.
- Liquid measuring cup – Use this for the applesauce, chopped apples and vegetable oil.
- Large mixing bowl – To make transfering the cake to the baking dish easier, I love a mixing bowl like this one with a handle and pour spout.
- Whisk & rubber scraper – These are useful to have to ensure everything is mixed.
- Fine mesh sieve – I prefer using one of these instead of a sifter for the flour and other dry ingredients.
- Paring knife & cutting board – You’ll need these to peel and chop the apples.
- 9X9 square baking pan – A glass baking dish or a metal cake pan will work.
- Parchment paper (optional) – Use to line the baking dish if you don’t use cooking spray.
Storage & Freezing Instructions
To store: If you plan on eating the applesauce cake immediately, you can leave it out on. your counter for two to three days, tightly wrapped in plastic or in a cake carrier or another airtight container.
Otherwise, refrigerate in an airtight container for up to a week.
To freeze: Once completely cooled, wrap cake in two layers of plastic wrap and or in a layer of plastic wrap and foil. Place wrapped cake in a zippered freezer bag. Freeze for up to a year.
You can freeze a whole cake or individual slices using this process.
To thaw: Remove from the freezer and thaw wrapped cake for two to three hours on your kitchen counter.
What Are The Best Apples to Use?
You’ll want to use a firm, baking apple in this cake. I’ve tested it with Honeycrisp and Gala apples, and they worked well. Other good varieties to use include Braeburn, Cortland, Honey Gold, Jonathan, Fuji, Pink Lady or Granny Smith (if you prefer tart apples).
More Delicious Apple Recipes
If you liked this recipe, you may also enjoy these apple flavored favorites:
- Homemade Cinnamon Applesauce
- Applesauce Pie
- Apple Butter Cream Cheese Wontons
- Caramel Apple Baked Brie
- Caramel Apple Cider
Pin This! Easy Applesauce Cake Recipe
🎥 Recipe Card & Video
Old Fashioned Applesauce Cake
Ingredients
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup sweetened applesauce
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 2¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ¾ tsp. table salt
- 1¼ tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp grated nutmeg
- 3 cups apples peeled and chopped
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350℉. Line a 9X9 cake pan or baking dish with parchment paper or grease with cooking spray.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, oil, applesauce and vanilla.
- Sift in flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
- Add the cinnamon and nutmeg. Mix until just combined.
- Fold in the chopped apples until incorporated into the batter.
- Pour the cake batter into the prepared pan. Bake at 350℉ for 45 to 55 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. (If you find that the cake is browning too quickly, you may need to cover the sides and tent with foil to prevent overbrowning.)
- Allow to cool for at least 10 minutes before slicing.
- Serve plain or dusted with powdered sugar, if preferred.
Video
Notes
Variations & Substitutions
- Storebought applesauce can be used in place of homemade applesauce.
- Use unsweetened applesauce for a cake that is less sweet.
- Substitute ground cloves, ground ginger or ground allspice for the nutmeg for a different flavor profile.
- Canola oil may be substituted for vegetable oil.
- If you like nuts, try adding ½ to 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts with the apples.
- You can add ½ to 1 cup raisins in place of some of the chopped apples in the recipe.
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