Applesauce Cake - Easy Fall Dessert Recipe

This Applesauce Cake is a great easy fall dessert. The scratch cake recipe is simple enough for even new bakers to succeed making.

The super moist single layer cake with just enough sweetness is made with applesauce, raisins and walnuts. A simple scratch applesauce spice cake recipe that the entire family will love and a great way to use up leftover applesauce.

Applesauce Cake with Raisins and Walnuts

This simple scratch baked applesauce cake proves desserts don't need to be fussy to be both beautiful and delicious. Fall is the perfect time to make a rustic cake like this. It is great after dinner, served with coffee in the morning or even bake one while the kids are at school and serve as an after-school treat.

Looking for a more pie-like apple dessert? Try my Caramel Apple Dump Cake. It's just four ingredients!

As far as apple sauce cakes go, this is one of the easiest you will find that isn't made with a boxed cake mix.

How to Make Applesauce Cake

Here I will walk you right through the steps of making this simple fall dessert. I have step by step recipe  instructions for you. Even if you have never baked a cake from scratch before, you've got this!

Want to really step up your made from scratch game? Make your own homemade applesauce with my Instant Pot Applesauce recipe.

Applesauce Cake Recipe Ingredients

Here is everything you will need to make this delicious cake recipe.

• 1 stick unsalted butter
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup unsweetened applesauce (yes, you can use sweetened applesauce, the results will only be a little sweeter)
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
• 2 cups all purpose flour*
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup raisins
• ½ cup chopped walnuts
• 2 tablespoon powdered sugar

*If you want a deeper color to the cake or simply want a bit more fiber swap ½ cup of the flour for whole wheat flour.

Preparation

First preheat your oven to 350 degrees f.

Next coat the inside of an 8x8 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray and set aside the prepared baking dish.

Cream together the butter and sugar in a large bowl. Make sure your butter is somewhat soft before you start.

Add applesauce and vanilla (optional) into the bowl and mix that in.

Now add your flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ground cloves and salt. Mix these in well.

Now drop in the raisins and walnuts. Fold those into the batter until they are evenly distributed.

Now spread the cake batter out into your prepared pan.

Bake for 40-45 minutes in preheated oven, until a toothpick pulls out clean from the center of the cake.

Let the cake cool completely and dust with powdered sugar before serving. Simply slice and serve.

The cooled cake could also be topped with a cream cheese frosting if you like. Just spread frosting evenly over the cake, either on a wire rack or right in a baking pan. You can use a tub of store bought cream cheese frosting or make your own. I have directions for some homemade cream cheese frosting in my Pumpkin Carrot Cake recipe

Try serving the Applesauce Spice Cake with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream, my No Churn Caramel Apple Ice Cream or top with homemade Apple Pie Filling and whipped cream.

Storing

If you wish to store leftovers or make the cake ahead of time proper storage is important. No matter how you store it, the cake must be fully cooled first and wrapped in plastic wrap or sealed in an airtight container.

• Applesauce cake will be good at room temperature for about 2 days.
• In the refrigerator the pastry will last for 5-6 days.
• The freezer is an excellent way to preserve the cake for long periods of time, up to 3 months.