Applesauce Cake

  • 20m Prep Time
  • 30m Cook Time
  • 1h 5mReady In

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  • Cuisine : American
  • Course : Dessert

A moist spiced cake made with applesauce, flavored with cinnamon and cloves. Can be frosted with butterscotch icing or dusted with powdered sugar.

Ingredients

Servings:
  • 1 ¾ cups sifted (210g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • (½ teaspoon ground allspice)
  • (¼ teaspoon grated or ground nutmeg)
  • 1 stick (4 oz or 115g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup white (200g) or packed light brown sugar (230g)
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 cup (225g) unsweetened applesauce
  • (1 cup finely chopped toasted walnuts or pecans)
  • (1 cup raisins, golden raisins, or dried currants)
  • 1
    • ½ cup packed brown sugar
    • ⅓ cup light cream or evaporated milk
    • 4 tablespoons (½ stick) unsalted butter
    • ⅛ teaspoon salt
    • 3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
    • ½ teaspoon vanilla or 1 teaspoon dark rum
    • (Powdered sugar)
    Sub-recipe steps
    1. Heat in a medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring until smooth: ½ cup packed brown sugar; ⅓ cup light cream or evaporated milk; 4 tablespoons (½ stick) unsalted butter; ⅛ teaspoon salt
    2. Remove from the heat, scrape into a medium bowl, and let cool for about 5 minutes. Gradually add, beating until spreadable: 3 cups powdered sugar, sifted; ½ teaspoon vanilla or 1 teaspoon dark rum
    3. If the icing seems thin, set the pan in a larger pan of ice water and beat until spreadable. If necessary, add more: (Powdered sugar)
  • Powdered sugar

Let's Prepare

Collect

Gather these ingredients - no prep needed yet.

  • 1 ¾ cups sifted (210g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • (½ teaspoon ground allspice)
  • (¼ teaspoon grated or ground nutmeg)
  • 1 stick (4 oz or 115g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup white (200g) or packed light brown sugar (230g)
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 cup (225g) unsweetened applesauce
  • (1 cup finely chopped toasted walnuts or pecans)
  • (1 cup raisins, golden raisins, or dried currants)
  • 1 Quick Butterscotch (Penuche) Icing or Quick Brown Butter Icing
  • Powdered sugar

Let's Cook

  1. Step 1.

    Whisk together thoroughly in a medium bowl: 1 ¾ cups sifted (210g) all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon; ½ teaspoon ground cloves; ½ teaspoon salt; (½ teaspoon ground allspice); (¼ teaspoon grated or ground nutmeg)

  2. Step 2.

    Beat in a large bowl, or in a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, until creamy, about 30 seconds: 1 stick (4 oz or 115g) unsalted butter, softened

  3. Step 3.

    Gradually add and beat on high speed until lightened in color and texture, 3 to 5 minutes: 1 cup white (200g) or packed light brown sugar (230g)

  4. Step 4.

    Beat in: 1 large egg

  5. Step 5.

    On low speed, add the flour mixture in 3 parts, alternating with: 1 cup (225g) unsweetened applesauce

  6. Step 6.

    in 2 parts, beating after each addition just until incorporated and scraping the sides of the bowl with a silicone spatula as necessary. If desired, stir in: (1 cup finely chopped toasted walnuts or pecans); (1 cup raisins, golden raisins, or dried currants)

  7. Step 7.

    Scrape the batter into the pan and spread evenly. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes in a square pan, 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes in a loaf pan.

  8. Step 8.

    Let cool in the pan on a rack for 15 minutes, then invert onto the rack to cool completely.

  9. Step 9.

    Frost with: Quick Butterscotch (Penuche) Icing or Quick Brown Butter Icing

  10. Step 10.

    or sprinkle with: Powdered sugar

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