This easy applesauce spice cake is moist, warmly spiced, and perfect for cozy fall baking. Made with simple pantry ingredients and no mixer required, it's a fuss-free dessert that comes together in just one bowl. Topped with a sweet cinnamon glaze, this cake is sure to become a seasonal favorite.
This delicious applesauce spice cake is the perfect cozy bake for fall, moist, warmly spiced, and full of comforting flavor. Made with a blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, plus applesauce and chunks of fresh apple, this one-bowl recipe is as easy as it is satisfying. Whether you're baking for a gathering or just craving something nostalgic, this applesauce spice cake is a seasonal must-make that you'll come back to year after year.
Why you will love this applesauce cake.
Full of cozy fall flavor - Warm spices, applesauce, and fresh apple make every bite taste like autumn.
Quick and easy - No mixer required and just one bowl for easy cleanup.
Incredibly moist - Thanks to the applesauce and fresh apple chunks, this cake stays soft for days.
Versatile - Delicious on its own or topped with cream cheese frosting, maple glaze, or a simple dusting of powdered sugar.
Perfect for gatherings or snacking - Great for potlucks, lunchboxes, or a cozy afternoon treat with coffee or tea.
Freezer-friendly - Make it ahead and freeze slices for a ready-to-go dessert or snack.
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Equipment
- Mixing bowls
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Cake tin
Ingredients
- All purpose flour
- Baking powder
- Baking soda
- Spices: I love using cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, ginger and cardamom.
- Salt
- Sour cream
- Brown sugar
- White granulated sugar
- Eggs: Ideally at room temperature.
- Unsalted butter
- Vanilla extract
- Unsweetened applesauce
- Large apple
Recipe FAQs
I like to use a firm, slightly tart apple like Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, or Granny Smith, they hold their shape well and add a nice contrast to the sweet, spiced cake.
Absolutely. This cake actually tastes even better the next day once the flavors have settled. Store it covered at room temperature for 1-2s day or in the fridge for up to 4 days.
I like serving this cake on its own (without frosting) as a breakfast or snack that family loves. But this cake does pair beautifully with maple cream cheese glaze (recipe below) or you can also use classic cream cheese frosting, vanilla glaze, or just a dusting of powdered sugar for a simpler finish.
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Made this Applesauce Spice Cake recipe? Let me know what you think in the comments!
Recipe
Applesauce Spice Cake
Equipment
- Mixing bowls
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Sheet cake pan
Ingredients
- 2.5 cups all purpose flour
- 2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1.5 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- ½ teaspoon ground cardamom
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- 8 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ¾ cup white granulated sugar
- 3 eggs
- ⅓ cup sour cream I recommend full fat
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups unsweetened applesauce
- 1 large apple, peeled and diced
Cream Cheese Maple Glaze (optional)
- 8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
- 4 tablespoon maple syrup
- 3 tsbp unsalted butter, room temperature
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- pinch of salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a large mixing bowl combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon. ginger, nutmeg, cloves, cardamom and salt. In a separate bowl combine melted butter and brown and white sugar. Whisk to combine. Then add eggs and sour cream and whisk until well incorporated. Add in vanilla extract and applesauce, mix to combine. Add half of the dry mixture into the wet mixture and stir to combine. Then add the remaining dry mixture and stir until there are no white streaks of flour yet, being careful not to over mix. Then fold in the diced apple.
- Line a sheet cake pan with parchment paper and prepare with butter and flour (or your preferred non stick baking spray). Pour the batter into the pan and then bake at 350 degrees F for 35-40 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
- Remove the cake from the oven and allow to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, at which point you can carefully place a wire rack on top of the cake then carefully flip it over to remove from the pan. You can eat the cake warm or allow it to cool and add frosting or Cream Cheese Maple Glaze .
To make the Cream Cheese Maple Glaze
- Combine all glaze ingredients in a large mixing bowl or bowl of an electric stand mixer. Blend together until smooth. Pour or drizzle over the applesauce spice cake. Enjoy!
Kristina
This apple cake was amazing, it had so much flavor and my kids couldn't get enough of the icing. I actually air fried mine for about 20 minutes with the batter split into 2 smaller square cake pans. Definitely a keeper!
Jeannie
this spice cake is full of flavor and yes easy to make too. I use homemade applesauce for this and planning to make again.
Helen at the Lazy Gastronome
This recipe brought me back to my childhood! My mom used to make applesauce spice cake - just like this - and now I have the recipe!! Thanks!
megane
Simple, moist and so much flavour. A great cake and everyone loved it.
Lynne
Sounds like an amazing cake and I want to make it soon. What size pan did u use? 9x13 or 11x15?
jamjarkitchen
Hi Lynne- I recommend using a 9x13 pan. Hope you enjoy!
Jayme
Hey! Can you make cupcakes with these?
jamjarkitchen
Hi Jayme - Yes, you can make cupcakes with this batter. I haven't done so, so I'm not exactly sure on the timing. But I would probably bake at 350 for about 18-20 minutes and check for doneness. If it's not full baked add an additional 3-5 minutes. Hope this helps!
Jan
So excited. Just the taste of the batter made my tongue want more. I noticed in your top photo of the cake your frosting has something sprinkled. What is it? Thanks!
jamjarkitchen
Hi Jan- I just sprinkled some cinnamon on top. Hope you enjoy!