Applesauce Cake
Published Oct 02, 2026
Applesauce cake with unsweetened applesauce and warm spices, topped with cinnamon cream cheese frosting. An easy 9x13 cake with no apple peeling or chopping
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Applesauce cake sounds like something you make because there’s half a jar of applesauce hanging around, but I buy applesauce for this cake. I like that the apple flavor is baked into the whole thing instead of coming from chunks of fruit, and the cake stays really soft for days. I use plenty of cinnamon too, because an applesauce cake without enough cinnamon is just a very beige cake to me.
Recipe Testing Notes
For the past 10 years, I’ve tested every recipe before sharing it with you! These notes give you a peek into the process of developing this Applesauce Cake recipe.
I tested this with both sweetened and unsweetened applesauce, and the sweetened version was too much once the frosting went on. The cake itself was fine, but everything together crossed over into sweeter than I wanted. Unsweetened applesauce gave me more room to control that, and the cake was still really soft a couple days later, so that’s the one I kept.
I tested the topping plain and with a little apple butter swirled through it too. The apple butter gives the cake a stronger apple flavor, and I like it, but I don’t think the recipe absolutley needs it. If you don’t have it or don’t want to buy it, then don’t worry! If I have apple butter open already, that’s when I add the swirl.
Happy Cooking!
– Yumna
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Applesauce Cake Ingredients
- Applesauce: Use unsweetened applesauce so you don’t add extra sugar to the applesauce cake. Smooth applesauce works best here; if yours has chunks, blend it before measuring.
- Dry ingredients: All-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, ground nutmeg, and salt. You can use apple pie spices or even pumpkin pie spices instead, start with ¾ teaspoon and adjust depending on how spice forward you’d like your cake to be. Also, try and use aluminium free baking powder.
- Wet ingredients: You’ll also need large eggs, granulated sugar, brown sugar, avocado oil, and vanilla extract. Bring the eggs to room temperature so they blend easily, and break up any lumps in the brown sugar as you whisk.
- Cinnamon cream cheese topping: Cream cheese, powdered sugar, more ground cinnamon, vanilla extract, and apple butter. Use softened cream cheese so the topping beats together smoothly. Sift the powdered sugar first if it’s lumpy. The apple butter swirl is optional, but so good with my homemade apple butter!
How to Make Applesauce Cake
These step-by-step photos walk you through how to make Applesauce Cake. For the full ingredient list and detailed instructions, head to the recipe card below, or skip straight to the → Applesauce Cake recipe below
1. Combine the wet ingredients
Whisk the eggs in a large bowl until smooth, then add the granulated sugar, brown sugar, oil, applesauce, and vanilla. Whisk until everything is combined.
2. Add the dry ingredients
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ginger, and nutmeg. Tip the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. Stir just until no flour streaks remain, scraping along the bottom of the bowl as you go.
3. Fill the baking dish
Pour the batter into a greased baking dish and spread it evenly into the corners.
4. Bake applesauce cake
Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool completely in the dish.
5. Spread cream cheese icing
Beat the softened cream cheese on medium-high speed until smooth and fluffy. Then beat in the powdered sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla, then spread the topping over the cooled cake.
6. Swirl in the apple butter
Add small spoonfuls of apple butter across the topping, if using. Gently drag the back of a spoon through them to leave swirls in the cream cheese.
Full Applesauce Cake Recipe
Applesauce Cake Recipe
Ingredients
- 2½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 3 large eggs at room temperature
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup packed light brown sugar
- ½ cup avocado oil
- 1½ cups unsweetened applesauce
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Cinnamon Cream Cheese Topping
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup apple butter optional, for swirling
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ginger, and nutmeg.
- In a large bowl, whisk the eggs until smooth. Add the granulated sugar, brown sugar, oil, applesauce, and vanilla, and whisk until combined. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until no flour streaks remain.
- Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and bake for 28–30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool completely before adding the topping.
- To make the cream cheese topping, place the cream cheese in a large bowl and beat with a hand mixer on medium-high speed until smooth and fluffy. Add the powdered sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla and beat until smooth. Spread evenly over the cooled cake. If using, add small spoonfuls of apple butter on top and use the back of a spoon to gently swirl it into the cream cheese topping.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.
Recipe Variations
- Chopped nuts: For some crunch without changing the batter, sprinkle ⅓ cup chopped toasted walnuts or pecans over the finished topping.
- Raisins: If you like raisins in spice cake, try folding ½ cup into the batter after the flour is incorporated. Check the center for doneness before removing the cake from the oven.
Recipe Tips
- Stop mixing once the flour disappears. Extra mixing at this stage can make the cake tough. Use a spatula to check for pockets of flour at the bottom of the bowl.
- Check the center before taking it out. Start checking at 28 minutes, but use the toothpick test to decide when it’s done. If it comes out with wet batter, bake a little longer and check again.
- Keep the apple butter swirls shallow. Move the spoon through the topping without digging into the cake underneath. A few passes will leave more distinct swirls than repeated stirring. Less is more!
Troubleshooting
Too much flour or overmixing can make the cake dense. Spoon and level the flour instead of scooping it straight from the bag, and stop mixing once the dry ingredients are incorporated. If the center is wet or gummy, it may also need more time in the oven.
The cream cheese may have been too cold. Let it soften before beating, and get it smooth before adding the powdered sugar. If you’ve already mixed everything together, let the topping soften briefly, then beat again.
Comments
I want to make this! I love and trust all of your recipes! I’m not a fan of cream cheese would it be ok to skip the topping or can you please suggest an alternative? Open to suggestions. Nuts? A crumble?
Thanks 😊