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Apple Cake with Fluffy Brown Sugar Buttercream

This easy apple cake is a moist, fluffy cake recipe filled with warm spice and fresh apples. Frost this cake with homemade brown sugar buttercream for the perfect fall dessert!

Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Total Time
1 hr 20 mins
Servings: 15 servings
Calories: 839 kcal
Course: Cake
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

for the apple cake:
  • 4 medium-sized tart firm apples – peeled, cored, & shredded (use the big holes on your grater), to make about 3.5 cups shredded apples – I recommend Haralson, Honeycrisp, Zestar!, SweeTango, and Granny Smith
  • 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 cup white sugar divided
  • 3 cups wheat flour
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1 tablespoon cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon mace
  • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 cup light brown sugar
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • ½ cup applesauce
  • 4 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
for the fluffy brown sugar buttercream:
  • 1 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • ½ cup light brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • pinch of kosher salt
  • 2 tablespoons half and half
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. For the apple cake: Preheat oven to 350° F. Lightly spray a 9" x 13" pan and set aside.
  2. In a medium bowl, stir together the shredded apple with lemon juice and 1/4 cup of the white sugar. Set aside.
  3. In another medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, mace, nutmeg, and salt. Set aside.
  4. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the remaining 3/4 cup of white sugar, brown sugar, oil, applesauce, eggs, and vanilla. Mix to combine. Then add the flour mixture and combine once again. Add the apples and mix until the apples are evenly distributed.
  5. Pour into prepared pan and bake for about 50 minutes, or until the cake is nicely browned and a toothpick comes out of the cake clean. Let cake cool on a rack.
  6. For the fluffy brown sugar buttercream: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, whip butter on medium-high speed until very fluffy, about 8 minutes, occasionally scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl.
  7. Add powdered sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt, and beat on low to incorporate. Add half and half and vanilla, mixing on low until combined. Increase mixer speed to medium-high and beat until very light and fluffy, about 5 to 6 minutes, occasionally scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl.
  8. Spread buttercream onto cooled cake.

Notes

  • From a farmgirl’s dabbles

Nutrition Information

Serving 1 Calories 839kcal (42%) Carbohydrates 130g (43%) Protein 11g (22%) Fat 33g (51%) Saturated Fat 15g (75%) Polyunsaturated Fat 16g Cholesterol 119mg (40%) Sodium 312mg (13%) Fiber 8g (32%) Sugar 86g (172%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 15servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 839

% Daily Value*

Serving 1
Calories 839kcal 42%
Carbohydrates 130g 43%
Protein 11g 22%
Fat 33g 51%
Saturated Fat 15g 75%
Polyunsaturated Fat 16g 94%
Cholesterol 119mg 40%
Sodium 312mg 13%
Fiber 8g 32%
Sugar 86g 172%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.