Applesauce Cake

Applesauce cake is one of those classic, comforting desserts that never gets old.

It’s warm, spiced, incredibly moist, and topped with the creamiest frosting you’ll ever taste. If you love the flavors of fall baking, this one is a must-try.

The applesauce does all the heavy lifting here, keeping every bite soft and tender without any fussing around.

Whether you’re baking for a holiday gathering or just craving something sweet on a cozy afternoon, this applesauce cake hits the spot every single time.

Trust me, once you try it, it’ll earn a permanent spot in your recipe rotation!

Why You’ll Love This Applesauce Cake

The texture on this cake is out of this world.

Thanks to the applesauce, it comes out unbelievably moist and tender. We’re talking melt-in-your-mouth good, with zero dryness in sight.

The warm spices are the perfect complement. Cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice come together to create that cozy, autumn-in-a-bite flavor that’s absolutely irresistible.

And that cream cheese frosting? It’s the real showstopper. Tangy, sweet, and oh so smooth, it pairs perfectly with the spiced cake underneath.

The best part is how easy it all comes together. No fancy equipment, no complicated techniques. Just mix, pour, and bake!

Ingredients You’ll Need

Here’s everything you’ll need to make this delicious applesauce cake.

All-purpose flour – Two and a quarter cups of all-purpose flour gives the cake its structure. You can also use whole wheat flour for a heartier version.

Baking soda and baking powder – This combination ensures the cake rises beautifully and stays light and fluffy.

Ground cinnamon – Two teaspoons of cinnamon bring that warm, signature spice flavor to the cake.

Ground ginger, nutmeg, and allspice – These supporting spices round out the warm flavor profile and make every bite taste like fall.

Granulated sugar and brown sugar – A combination of both sugars gives you the perfect sweetness with a hint of caramel depth from the brown sugar.

Eggs – Two large eggs help bind everything together and contribute to that tender crumb.

Unsweetened applesauce – Two cups of applesauce is the star ingredient. It adds moisture, natural sweetness, and keeps the cake incredibly soft.

Vegetable oil – Three-quarters of a cup of oil ensures the cake stays moist for days.

Vanilla extract – A teaspoon of vanilla rounds out all the flavors beautifully.

Cream cheese – Eight ounces of cream cheese forms the base of that tangy, luscious frosting.

Butter – Six tablespoons of softened butter add richness and smoothness to the frosting.

Powdered sugar – Three cups of powdered sugar sweeten the frosting to perfection.

How to Make Applesauce Cake

This recipe comes together in just a few simple steps.

Step 1: Prep the dry ingredients. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice.

Step 2: Make the batter. In a separate large bowl, beat the granulated sugar, brown sugar, and eggs with an electric mixer until pale and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the applesauce, vegetable oil, and vanilla, then mix until well combined.

Step 3: Combine and bake. Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and gently fold until no flour streaks remain. Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Step 4: Make the frosting. While the cake cools, beat the cream cheese and softened butter together until smooth. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla, then whip on high until light and fluffy.

Step 5: Frost and serve. Once the cake has cooled completely, spread the cream cheese frosting evenly over the top. Slice and enjoy!

Tips for the Best Results

Make sure to use unsweetened applesauce. Sweetened applesauce will make the cake too sugary and can throw off the texture.

Don’t overmix the batter. Fold the wet and dry ingredients together just until combined. Overmixing develops too much gluten and makes the cake tough instead of tender.

Let the cake cool completely before frosting. If the cake is even slightly warm, the cream cheese frosting will melt right off.

For extra flavor, add half a cup of raisins or chopped walnuts to the batter. They add a fantastic chewy or crunchy texture that takes this cake to the next level.

Storage Tips

Because of the cream cheese frosting, this cake needs to be stored in the refrigerator. Cover it tightly with plastic wrap or transfer slices to an airtight container.

It’ll keep in the fridge for up to 5 days, and honestly, it tastes even better on day two once all those spice flavors have had a chance to meld together.

You can also freeze this cake for up to 3 months. Just wrap individual slices in plastic wrap and pop them in a freezer bag. Thaw in the fridge overnight when you’re ready to enjoy.

Print Pin

4.80 from 11 votes

Applesauce Cake

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 35 minutes minutes

Total Time 50 minutes minutes

Servings 16 slices

Ingredients

For the Cake

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp ground allspice
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar packed
• 2 large eggs
• 2 cups unsweetened applesauce
• 3/4 cup vegetable oil or canola oil
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

For the Cream Cheese Frosting

• 8 oz cream cheese softened
• 6 tbsp unsalted butter softened
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

• Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice. Make a well in the center and set aside.
• In another large bowl, combine the granulated sugar, brown sugar, and eggs. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
• Add the applesauce, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract to the sugar mixture. Mix until well combined.
• Pour the wet mixture into the well in the dry ingredients. Gently fold until no flour streaks remain. Do not overmix.
• Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and spread evenly.
• Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool completely on a wire rack.
• For the frosting, beat the cream cheese and softened butter together until smooth. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract, then whip on high speed until light and fluffy.
• Spread the cream cheese frosting evenly over the cooled cake. Slice and serve.

Notes

Use unsweetened applesauce for best results. The cake must cool completely before frosting. Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You can freeze unfrosted cake for up to 3 months.

Final Thoughts

This applesauce cake is everything you want in a fall dessert and more.

It’s moist, warmly spiced, and topped with the most incredible cream cheese frosting. What’s not to love?

Whether you’re bringing it to a potluck, serving it at Thanksgiving, or just treating yourself on a weeknight, this cake never disappoints. Give it a try and I promise you won’t be disappointed!