Spiced Applesauce Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
This warmly spiced applesauce cake is moist, rich, and filled with cozy fall flavors—topped off with a luscious cream cheese frosting. Optional pecans add a bit of crunch, making it perfect for autumn celebrations or anytime comfort is on the menu.
- Prep Time: 25 mins
- Cook Time: 35 mins
- Total Time: 1 hr
- Yield: 24 servings 1x
Ingredients
Cake:
4 ½ cups (636g) all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
5 tsp ground cinnamon
2 tsp ground nutmeg
2 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp allspice
½ tsp ground cloves
3 ½ cups (740g) packed light brown sugar
1 ½ cups (350ml) vegetable oil
1 ½ cups (370g) unsweetened applesauce
8 large eggs
4 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups (480ml) buttermilk
2 cups chopped pecans (optional)
Cream Cheese Frosting:
24 oz cream cheese, nearly at room temperature
1 cup (8 oz) unsalted butter, nearly at room temperature
7 cups (880g) powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
Prep Oven: Preheat to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9×13-inch pans or three 9-inch round cake pans.
Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices.
Make Batter: In another bowl, mix brown sugar, oil, applesauce, eggs, and vanilla until smooth. Alternate adding dry ingredients and buttermilk. Fold in pecans if using.
Bake: Divide batter evenly between pans and bake for 30–35 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool completely.
Make Frosting: Beat cream cheese and butter until creamy. Add powdered sugar and vanilla, then beat until light and fluffy.
Frost & Serve: Spread frosting over cooled cakes. Slice and enjoy!
Nutrition
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 38g
- Fat: 22g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Protein: 4g