Simple & Moist Applesauce Delight Cake Recipe for Sweet Cravings

Applesauce serves as the secret weapon in this mouthwatering dessert that changes ordinary baking into something extraordinary.

Sweet, moist, and incredibly tender, this cake promises a delightful experience for anyone craving comfort food.

Home bakers will love how effortlessly the ingredients come together, creating a dessert that feels both nostalgic and innovative.

Warm spices dance through each bite, offering a fragrant reminder of cozy kitchen memories.

Soft crumbs melt on your tongue, delivering a perfect balance between fruity brightness and rich, comforting texture.

Simple techniques guarantee success even for novice bakers wanting to impress family and friends.

Versatile and forgiving, this recipe welcomes creative variations while maintaining its classic charm.

How to Make Applesauce Cake

Step 1: Prepare Oven and Pan

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9″x5″ loaf pan generously with non-stick cooking spray.

Step 2: Mix Dry Ingredients

• Flour
• Cinnamon
• Allspice
• Nutmeg
• Cloves
• Salt
• Baking soda

Step 3: Cream Butter and Sugar

In a large bowl, cream softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy. The mixture should look smooth and pale.

Step 4: Add Wet Ingredients

Add beaten egg to the butter-sugar mixture. Mix thoroughly. Stir in applesauce until completely combined.

Step 5: Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures

Gradually fold dry ingredients into wet mixture. Mix gently until just incorporated. Avoid overmixing to keep the cake tender.

Step 6: Bake the Cake

Pour batter into prepared loaf pan. Bake for 50-60 minutes. Check doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center – it should come out clean.

Step 7: Cool and Serve

Let cake cool slightly. For an elegant touch, dust with powdered sugar before serving. Slice and enjoy your moist, spiced applesauce cake!

Top Tips for Applesauce Cake

• Measure Accurately: Use precise measuring cups and spoons to ensure the perfect balance of dry and wet ingredients for a consistent cake texture.
• Room Temperature Ingredients: Let butter, egg, and applesauce sit at room temperature for smoother mixing and better integration of flavors.
• Gentle Mixing Technique: Fold dry ingredients into wet mixture gently to prevent gluten development, which could make the cake tough and dense.
• Moisture Check: Use unsweetened applesauce for controlled sweetness and ensure it's at the right consistency to maintain the cake's moisture.
• Doneness Test: Insert a toothpick at a slight angle near the center of the cake; if it comes out clean with minimal crumbs, the cake is perfectly baked.

Storing and Reheating Applesauce Cake

• Store: Place cooled cake in an airtight container or tightly wrap with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for up to 5 days to maintain moisture and freshness. Keep away from direct sunlight and heat sources.
• Freeze: Slice cake before freezing for easier portioning. Wrap individual slices in plastic wrap, then place in freezer-safe bag. Frozen cake stays delicious for 2-3 months.
• Reheat: Thaw frozen cake at room temperature for 1-2 hours. Warm individual slices in microwave for 15-20 seconds or in oven at 300°F for 5-7 minutes. Enjoy the cake slightly warm for enhanced flavor and soft texture.

Pairing Applesauce Cake with Whipped Cream

• Pair with Warm Spiced Cider: Complement the cake's aromatic spices by serving a hot, mulled apple cider that echoes the cinnamon and nutmeg notes, creating a cozy autumn-inspired experience.
• Match with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream: Drizzle a scoop of creamy vanilla bean ice cream alongside the cake, allowing the cold, smooth texture to contrast beautifully with the warm, spiced cake.
• Enjoy with Caramel Cream Cheese Spread: Create a delightful accompaniment by whipping together cream cheese, caramel sauce, and a touch of cinnamon, offering a rich, tangy spread that enhances the cake's sweetness.
• Sip Chai Tea Latte: Brew a smooth chai tea latte with its complex spice profile, which perfectly complements the cake's warm, comforting flavors and adds an extra layer of depth to the dessert.

Applesauce Cake Variations to Try

• Rustic Autumn Apple Cake: Replace allspice with cardamom for a warming, aromatic flavor profile that captures fall's essence. Add chopped walnuts or pecans to create delightful texture and nutty undertones.
• Spiced Maple Applesauce Cake: Substitute sugar with pure maple syrup for deeper, richer sweetness. Include ground ginger and increase cinnamon for extra warmth and complexity.
• Healthier Whole Wheat Version: Swap half the all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour for added nutrition. Reduce butter and incorporate Greek yogurt to maintain moisture while cutting calories.
• Gluten-Free Apple Comfort Cake: Use gluten-free flour blend instead of regular flour. Add almond flour for enhanced flavor and smoother texture. Ensure all other ingredients remain consistent with original recipe.

Applesauce Cake for a Moist and Flavorful Dessert

• Spice Up Your Comfort: This cake delivers a warm, cozy flavor explosion with a perfect blend of cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, and cloves that hugs your taste buds like a delicious autumn embrace.
• Moisture Magic: The secret weapon is applesauce, which keeps the cake incredibly soft, tender, and wonderfully moist without being heavy, creating a light texture that melts in your mouth.
• Simple Baking Brilliance: Designed for home bakers of all skill levels, this recipe requires basic ingredients and straightforward mixing techniques, making it a stress-free baking experience that guarantees delicious results every single time.
• Versatile Treat Potential: Perfect for casual afternoon tea, family gatherings, or a cozy weekend dessert, this cake works beautifully as a quick breakfast treat or an elegant after-dinner sweet that everyone will adore.

Ingredients for Applesauce Cake

• All-Purpose Flour: A key base for the cake's structure and texture, choose unbleached flour for best results.
• Cinnamon, Allspice, Nutmeg, Cloves: Warm spices that create a cozy, aromatic flavor profile for the cake.
• Salt: Enhances and balances the overall taste of the cake.
• Baking Soda: Essential leavening agent that helps the cake rise and become light.

• Unsalted Butter: Provides richness and helps create a tender cake crumb, best when softened at room temperature.
• Granulated Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps with the cake's golden color and soft texture.
• Egg: Binds ingredients together and contributes to the cake's structure and moisture.
• Applesauce: Adds natural sweetness, moisture, and a subtle fruity flavor to the cake.

• Powdered Sugar: Optional topping that adds a decorative touch and light sweetness to the finished cake.

Applesauce Delight Cake Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.6 from 27 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Applesauce Delight Cake brings warmth and comfort from Grandma’s kitchen, blending sweet spices with moist apple-infused goodness. Home bakers discover pure nostalgia in each tender slice, creating memories that connect generations through simple, delicious ingredients.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 1 ¾ cups (217g) all-purpose flour
• 1 cup (200g) sugar
• 1 cup applesauce
• 1 large egg, beaten
• ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter, softened

Spices and Seasonings:

• 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon allspice
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon cloves

Leavening Agent:

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and thoroughly coat a 9-inch by 5-inch (23 centimeters by 13 centimeters) loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray.
2. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, ground cinnamon, ground allspice, ground nutmeg, ground cloves, salt, and baking soda, whisking until the dry ingredients are evenly distributed.
3. Using an electric mixer or stand mixer, cream the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar together until the mixture becomes pale, light, and fluffy, approximately 3-4 minutes.
4. Incorporate the beaten egg into the butter-sugar mixture, blending thoroughly until completely integrated.
5. Gently fold in the applesauce, stirring until the liquid is uniformly distributed throughout the batter.
6. Gradually add the prepared dry ingredients to the wet mixture, folding carefully to prevent overmixing. Mix until the ingredients are just combined and no visible flour streaks remain.
7. Pour the cake batter into the prepared loaf pan, smoothing the top with a spatula to ensure an even surface.
8. Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 50-60 minutes, checking doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center – it should emerge clean with no wet batter.
9. Remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
10. Optional: Dust the top with powdered sugar just before serving for an elegant finishing touch.

Notes

• Warm spices like cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, and cloves create a cozy, aromatic flavor profile that transforms this cake into a comforting autumn treat.
• Applesauce serves as a secret weapon, adding moisture and natural sweetness while reducing the amount of butter needed in the recipe.
• Check cake doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center; if it comes out clean, the cake is perfectly baked and ready to enjoy.
• Room temperature ingredients help create a smoother, more evenly mixed batter that results in a tender, soft cake texture.
• Avoid overmixing the batter to prevent a tough, dense cake; gently fold ingredients until just combined for the best results.
• Let the cake cool slightly before serving to allow flavors to settle and make slicing easier, creating a more enjoyable eating experience.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 60 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 285 kcal
• Sugar: 24 g
• Sodium: 180 mg
• Fat: 13 g
• Saturated Fat: 8 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
• Trans Fat: 0.5 g
• Carbohydrates: 40 g
• Fiber: 1.5 g
• Protein: 3 g
• Cholesterol: 45 mg