Applesauce Cake

Applesauce cake is a very moist cake with warm spices of cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. This delicious, easy to make eggless cake is perfectly finished with  just a sprinkling of powdered sugar! 

Applesauce cake is an old fashioned cake made with a few basic pantry ingredients. No eggs are added. This cake is a depression era cake and reminds me a bit of chocolate mayonnaise cake in its simplicity.  You know when a recipe has survived this long and is still made on a regular basis, that it's delicious! 

At first glance, this cake isn't a show stopper. It's rather plain looking and non assuming. Don't judge a book, or cake, by its cover! First bite proves this is one delicious cake! The applesauce in this cake makes the cake very moist. The spices make every bite warm and cozy. 

To prepare cake batter:

1. Combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and spices together in a bowl
2. Cream butter in a mixing bowl until soft and fluffy. Mix in brown sugar
3. Add half of flour mixture and combine
4. Add applesauce and vanilla 
5. Mix in remaining flour mixture
6. Place in a greased baking dish
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7. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 30 minutes
8. Allow cake to cool and top with powdered sugar

Can this cake be made ahead of time?

Yes, you can make this cake one day ahead of your intended serving time. Once cake has fully cooled, cover with plastic wrap and store at room temperature. Add powdered sugar just before serving.

Can I freeze this cake?

Yes, this cake can be frozen for up to one  month. Allow cake to fully cool. Cover with plastic wrap and then foil. Label and date cake. To use pull from freezer and allow to thaw at room temperature. Add powdered sugar just before serving. 

What type of applesauce is best in this cake?

I like to use homemade applesauce when making this cake. However, store bought applesauce works just as well. Do not use a artificially sweetened applesauce or a flavored applesauce. Unsweetened applesauce is okay to use. 

Variations:

If you are looking for a few variations on this applesauce cake, consider adding any of the following options:

• 1 cup of chopped walnuts
• 1 cup of chopped pecans
• ½ cup of raisins
• ½ cup of dried cranberries

Tips for making this cake

• Use softened butter
• When measuring brown sugar, firmly pack it into measuring cup
• Do not over mix cake batter. Just stir until flour is mixed in
• Allow cake to fully cool in baking dish

Other delicious cake recipes

• Cherry snack cake
• Strawberry cake
• Carrot cake
• Chocolate apple cake
• Old fashioned spice cake - by Hearts Content Farmhouse

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Applesauce Cake

Kathy

Eggless cake made with applesauce an warm spices.

5 from 10 votes

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Prep Time 15 mins

Cook Time 30 mins

Total Time 45 mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 12 Slices

Calories 229 kcal

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• ▢ 2 cups flour
• ▢ 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ▢ ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ▢ ½ teaspoon salt
• ▢ 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
• ▢ ½ cup butter
• ▢ 1 cup brown sugar
• ▢ 1 cup applesauce
• ▢ 1 teaspoon vanilla

Topping

• ▢ 2 Tablespoons powdered sugar

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees
• Grease a 8 x 11 inch baking dish
• Combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves in a bowl
  2 cups flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg, ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
• Cream butter in a mixing bowl with a mixer until soft. Add brown sugar and combine
  ½ cup butter, 1 cup brown sugar
• Add half the flour mixture. Mix until incorporated
• Mix in applesauce and vanilla
  1 cup applesauce, 1 teaspoon vanilla
• Add remaining flour and mix until flour is completely mixed in
• Pour batter into prepared baking dish. Smooth batter with a spatula so it is evenly spread in dish
• Bake for 30 minutes
• Allow cake to fully cool in baking dish.
• Sprinkle powdered sugar on top before serving
  2 Tablespoons powdered sugar

Notes

Tips for making this cake

• Use softened butter
• When measuring brown sugar, firmly pack it into measuring cup
• Do not over mix cake batter. Just stir until flour is mixed in
• Allow cake to fully cool in baking dish

Variations:

If you are looking for a few variations on this applesauce cake, consider adding any of the following options:

• 1 cup of chopped walnuts
• 1 cup of chopped pecans
• ½ cup of raisins
• ½ cup of dried cranberries

Nutrition

Serving: 1sliceCalories: 229kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 2gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 20mgSodium: 216mgPotassium: 95mgFiber: 1gSugar: 21gVitamin A: 242IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 37mgIron: 1mg

Keyword applesauce cake, eggless cake

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Recipe adapted from The New Doubleday Cookbook and Joy of Cooking.