Applesauce Cake

close up shot of a slice of Cake topped with frosting on a plate with a fork

5 from 26 votes

This classic applesauce cake is a favorite old-fashioned rich and irresistible treat that is extra moist thanks to the addition of cinnamon applesauce.

Prep Time10

Cook Time35

Total Time45

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Applesauce Cake Recipe

Servings:

Calories: 638kcal

Ingredients

Cake

½ cup milk
1 cup raisins
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon nutmeg
½ teaspoon cloves
½ cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
½ cup brown sugar
2 eggs, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups cinnamon applesauce
1 cup walnuts, chopped

Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting

8 ounces cream cheese
½ cup butter, softened
3 cups powdered sugar
2 tablespoons heavy cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon salt

Instructions

Cake

Preheat oven to 350°F.
In a small bowl, pour the milk and place the raisins in the milk. Let them sit while preparing the rest of the cake.
Prepare a 9x13-inch pan by lining the bottom with parchment paper and spraying with nonstick spray.
In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg, and cloves. Set aside.
In a large bowl, beat together butter and sugars until mixed.
Add the eggs and vanilla and beat until mixed together.
Add the dry ingredients slowly to the butter and sugar mixture and beat just until combined.
Add the applesauce and mix on low just until combined.
Add the raisins and milk mixture and the walnuts and mix until just combined.
Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until a cake tester inserted in the middle of the cake comes out clean.
Once the cake has cooled, frost with cinnamon cream cheese frosting.

Frosting

In a large bowl, beat together the cream cheese and butter until smooth.
Add the powdered sugar and beat on low until the powdered sugar is mostly mixed in.
Add cream, vanilla, cinnamon and salt and mix on medium speed until all smooth and creamy.
Once the cake has cooled, use an offset or rubber spatula to frost the top of the cake with cinnamon cream cheese frosting.

Video

Notes

You could also bake this simple recipe in a bundt cake pan, a loaf pan, or make them as muffins!
If you want to skip the frosting, you could sprinkle the cake with powdered sugar instead.
Make sure the cream cheese is at room temperature so that you don't end up with lumps in your frosting.

Nutrition