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Applesauce Cake
5 from 15 votes

Applesauce Cake

Applesauce Cake is a moist, spiced cake made with unsweetened applesauce, maple syrup, and warming spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. It features an optional nut or raisin addition, crowned by a cinnamon cream cheese frosting that adds a smooth tangy finish. The cake's tender crumb and spice balance create a comforting dessert.

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
25 mins
Total Time
35 mins
Servings: 12
Calories: 244 kcal
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour or white whole wheat flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ¼ teaspoon cloves ground
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup applesauce unsweetened
  • ½ cup pure maple syrup or honey
  • ¼ cup avocado oil
  • 2 large egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • ½ cup nuts optional, chopped or raisins
Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting
  • 8 oz cream cheese full fat, softened to room temperature
  • ½ cup Greek yogurt I used plain full fat
  • ¼ cup maple syrup
  • 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease an 8x8-inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper.
  2. In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt.
  3. In a large bowl, whisk together the unsweetened applesauce, maple syrup or honey, oil, eggs, and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth and well combined.
  4. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, stirring until just combined. Do not overmix.
  5. Gently stir in the chopped nuts or raisins if using.
  6. Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and spread it evenly. Bake for 22-27 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  7. Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely.
  8. While cake is cooling, make cream cheese frosting by adding all ingredients to a large mixing bowl. Use a hand mixer on medium speed to whip all the ingredients together until smooth and fluffy (about 5 minutes), scraping down the sides as needed. If your frosting is turning out runny, just keep whipping it and it should turn out thick and fluffy. Alternatively, you can use a stand mixer.
  9. Once the cake has cooled, top with cream cheese frosting. Cut into squares and serve.

Notes

  • This cake can be made gluten-free using a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend although it has not been tested specifically.
  • To make it vegan, eggs can be replaced with flax or chia eggs, and dairy frosting substituted with a vegan alternative.
  • Dairy-free versions can skip frosting or use dairy-free cream cheese and yogurt alternatives.
  • Other frosting options include vanilla buttercream or peanut butter yogurt frosting for variety.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1 piece (no mix-in's) Calories 244kcal (12%) Carbohydrates 29g (10%) Protein 5g (10%) Fat 12g (18%) Saturated Fat 5g (25%) Polyunsaturated Fat 1g (6%) Monounsaturated Fat 5g (25%) Cholesterol 20mg (7%) Sodium 239mg (10%) Potassium 90mg (2%) Sugar 16g (32%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 12 Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 244

% Daily Value*

Serving 1 piece (no mix-in's)
Calories 244kcal 12%
Carbohydrates 29g 10%
Protein 5g 10%
Fat 12g 18%
Saturated Fat 5g 25%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g 6%
Monounsaturated Fat 5g 25%
Cholesterol 20mg 7%
Sodium 239mg 10%
Potassium 90mg 2%
Sugar 16g 32%

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