Apple Spice Cake is the ultimate Fall dessert recipe that is made from scratch! Rich, moist and flavorful with applesauce and topped with brown sugar frosting! Perfect Fall Dessert for Thanksgiving!

Apple Spice Cake with Brown Sugar Frosting is a delicious and easy fall dessert, perfect for Thanksgiving. This cake is moist and flavorful, thanks to the addition of applesauce, which not only enhances the texture but also adds natural sweetness. The cake is delicately spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg, creating a warm, autumnal flavor that pairs perfectly with the rich frosting. The brown sugar frosting is smooth and sweet, adding a caramel-like flavor that complements the spiced cake beautifully. This dessert is ideal for serving at family gatherings, offering a taste of comfort and nostalgia. It’s simple to make, with minimal ingredients, making it a go-to recipe during the busy holiday season. The combination of applesauce and brown sugar creates a perfectly balanced sweetness, ensuring every bite is flavorful and satisfying. This cake can be prepared in advance and stored in the fridge, making it convenient for holiday preparations. The moist, tender crumb of the cake contrasts nicely with the creamy frosting.

Ingredients you will need:
• Flour – base
• Baking powder, baking soda – leavening
• Cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, allspice, cloves – spiced flavor
• Brown sugar – sweetener
• Vegetable oil, unsweetened applesauce, buttermilk – tenderness and moisture
• Eggs – binding
• Vanilla, salt – additional flavor
• Pecans – textural contrast

How to Make Cake?
Preheat oven, prepare baking pans.
Whisk dry ingredients and spices.
Mix brown sugar with vegetable oil and applesauce, then mix in eggs and vanilla.
Mix in two additions of dry ingredients alternating with buttermilk.
Pour into prepared pans and bake until set. Let cool.
Prep Brown Sugar Frosting and spread over cooled cake, sprinkle with pecans.
How to Store Apple Spice Cake?
Store any leftover apple cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Can you freeze Apple Sauce Cake?
Yes, you can. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and then in aluminum foil, Freeze for up to three months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before serving.
Whether you’re hosting a large Thanksgiving dinner or a small family gathering, this cake is sure to impress your guests. Its homey flavors and rich texture make it an excellent addition to any fall dessert table. The ease of preparation combined with its irresistible flavor will make it a favorite for years to come. Enjoy!

Apple Spice Cake with Brown Sugar Frosting

Recipe by lidiacookbook.comCourse: DessertCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy

Servings

12

servings

Prep time

20

minutes

Cooking time

30

minutes

Total time

50

minutes

Apple Spice Cake is the ultimate Fall dessert recipe that is made from scratch! Rich, moist and flavorful with applesauce and topped with brown sugar frosting! Perfect Fall Dessert for Thanksgiving!

Ingredients

• For Apple Sauce Cake:

• 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour (scoop and level to measure)

• 1 teaspoon baking powder

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• ½ teaspoon salt

• 2 ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

• 1 teaspoon ground ginger

• ½ teaspoon allspice

• ¼ teaspoon ground cloves

• 1 ¾ cups packed light-brown sugar

• ¾ cup vegetable oil

• ½ cup unsweetened applesauce

• 4 large eggs

• 2 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1 cup buttermilk

• 1 cup chopped pecans (optional)

• For the frosting:

• 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened

• ½ cup butter, softened

• 1 cup confectioners’ sugar

• 1 cup packed brown sugar

• 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract

• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

• 1 ½ cups chopped pecans, toasted

Directions

• To make cake:
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray two 9-inch round baking pans well with non-stick baking spray then lightly dust with flour and shake out excess.
• Wrap cake strips around pan if you have them (for a more level cake). Set pans aside.
• In a mixing bowl whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, allspice and cloves for 20 seconds, set aside.
• Pour brown sugar into the bowl of an electric stand mixer. Break up brown sugar with fingertips until no clumps remain.
• Pour in vegetable oil and applesauce, set mixer with paddle attachment and blend until well combined (occasionally stop and scrape bowl throughout mixing process).
• Mix in eggs and vanilla.
• Add in 1/2 of the flour mixture and mix on low speed until combined, then blend in buttermilk, then add remaining 1/2 of the flour mixture and mix until well combined.
• Divide mixture evenly among two prepared baking pans.
• Bake about 25 – 30 minutes in preheated oven until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean
• Allow to cool in pans about 5 – 10 minutes then run a knife around edges to ensure cake is loose and invert upside down onto a wire rack to cool.
• Cool completely
• To make frosting:
• In a large bowl, beat cream cheese, butter, sugars, vanilla and pie spice until smooth.
• Spread frosting between layers and over top and side of cake.
• Gently press pecans into frosting on top of cake.
• Serve