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Old-Fashioned Amish Applesauce Cake with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting

Close-up of a moist slice of applesauce cake topped with thick white cream cheese frosting.
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Bake this incredibly moist applesauce cake, a nostalgic recipe full of warm spices. This easy dessert delivers the comfort of homemade baking, perfect for fall gatherings or any day you need a tender crumb cake.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup unsweetened applesauce (smooth or chunky)
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • For the Maple Cream Cheese Frosting:
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
  • 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 9×13 inch baking pan or two 8-inch round cake pans.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Set this dry mixture aside.
  3. In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. This takes about 3 minutes.
  4. Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
  5. Stir in the applesauce and vanilla extract until just combined.
  6. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, alternating with the milk. Mix on low speed until you have a smooth batter. Do not overmix.
  7. Pour the batter evenly into your prepared pan(s).
  8. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes for a 9×13 pan, or 30 to 40 minutes for round layers, or until a wooden pick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  9. Let the cake cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before frosting.
  10. To make the frosting, beat the softened cream cheese and butter together until smooth.
  11. Gradually add the sifted powdered sugar, mixing until incorporated.
  12. Beat in the maple syrup and vanilla extract until the frosting is creamy and spreadable.
  13. Spread the maple cream cheese frosting evenly over the cooled applesauce cake.

Notes

  • For an extra moist cake, use unsweetened applesauce that is slightly chunky.
  • If you prefer a simpler topping, dust the cooled cake with powdered sugar instead of frosting.
  • You can add 1/2 cup of raisins or chopped walnuts to the batter before baking for added texture.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://yumdrizzle.com/applesauce-cake-old-fashioned-amish-recipe/