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Moist Applesauce Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

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3.9 from 13 reviews

This delightful Applesauce Cake is a moist and flavorful dessert infused with warm spices like cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice. Made with unsweetened applesauce and a blend of sugars, it offers a balanced sweetness and tender crumb. Topped with a creamy, fluffy cream cheese frosting, this cake is perfect for gatherings or a cozy treat. The recipe yields 15 servings and requires about 2 hours and 30 minutes, including preparation, baking, and cooling times.

Ingredients

Cake Ingredients

  • 2 1/4 cups (318 g) all-purpose flour (scoop and level to measure)
  • 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 (150 g) granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup (100 g) brown sugar (break up any clumps with fingertips)
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 cups (490 g) unsweetened applesauce
  • 3/4 cup (175 ml) vegetable oil (or canola oil)
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Frosting Ingredients

  • 8 oz. cream cheese (nearly at room temperature)
  • 6 Tbsp (85 g) butter (soft)
  • 3 cups (360 g) powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray a 13 by 9-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
  2. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice for about 30 seconds to evenly distribute the spices and leavening agents. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and set aside.
  3. Beat Sugars and Eggs: In a separate large mixing bowl, combine the granulated sugar, brown sugar, and eggs. Using an electric hand mixer on medium speed, beat the mixture until it becomes fairly pale and fluffy, approximately 2 minutes.
  4. Add Wet Ingredients: To the sugar and egg mixture, add the unsweetened applesauce, vegetable oil, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Blend together thoroughly using the hand mixer until combined.
  5. Combine Mixtures: Pour the wet ingredients into the well of the dry ingredients. Gently fold and stir together until there are no longer visible streaks or pockets of flour. The batter will be lumpy, which is normal—do not overmix.
  6. Transfer to Baking Dish: Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan. Wiggle or lightly shake the pan to level the batter evenly.
  7. Bake the Cake: Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes. Check doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center of the cake; it should come out clean or with just a few moist crumbs attached.
  8. Cool the Cake: Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool on a wire rack. To speed up the cooling process, you may place the cake in the refrigerator once it has slightly cooled at room temperature.
  9. Prepare Cream Cheese Frosting: In a large mixing bowl, add the cream cheese, softened butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. Using clean beaters on an electric mixer, blend on low speed until the ingredients are combined.
  10. Whip Frosting: Increase the mixing speed to high and whip the frosting for several minutes until it becomes light, fluffy, and smooth.
  11. Adjust Frosting Consistency if Needed: If the frosting is too soft to spread, freeze it in 3-minute increments, stirring between each interval, until it firms up slightly.
  12. Frost and Serve: Once the cake is fully cooled, frost the top evenly with the cream cheese frosting. Cut into slices and serve.

Notes

  • Ensure applesauce is unsweetened to control the cake’s sweetness.
  • Do not overmix the batter once wet and dry ingredients are combined to keep the cake tender.
  • You can substitute vegetable oil with canola oil as preferred.
  • Room temperature cream cheese and butter yield a smoother, creamier frosting.
  • To speed up cake cooling, refrigerate after initial room temperature rest.
  • Store leftover cake covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
  • For a spicier flavor, add a pinch of ground cloves or cardamom to the dry ingredients.

Find it online: https://recipeplenty.com/moist-applesauce-cake-with-cream-cheese-frosting-recipe/