Description
Moist applesauce cake delights with classic autumn spices and rich flavor. Homemade comfort shines through each tender slice, inviting you to savor seasonal warmth and nostalgic charm.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups (250 grams) all-purpose flour
- ½ cup (115 grams) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ½ cups (360 milliliters) unsweetened applesauce
- ¾ cup (150 grams) granulated sugar
- ½ cup (100 grams) light brown sugar, packed
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup (60 grams) chopped walnuts or raisins
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- ¼ tsp ground cloves
Instructions
- Prep Station: Preheat oven to 350F (175C) and ready a 9×13-inch or bundt pan with a delicate butter coating and flour dusting.
- Dry Blend: Whisk flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves in a medium bowl until perfectly integrated, creating a uniform dry mixture.
- Butter Transformation: Cream butter and sugars in a large mixing bowl, whipping until the mixture becomes ethereally light and pale, developing a cloud-like consistency.
- Liquid Harmony: Introduce eggs one at a time, blending thoroughly after each addition, then incorporate vanilla extract, creating a silky-smooth batter with consistent texture.
- Ingredient Marriage: Gently fold dry ingredients into the wet mixture, alternating with applesauce. If desired, softly integrate walnuts or raisins, ensuring minimal mixing to maintain the cake’s delicate structure.
- Pan Placement: Carefully pour batter into the prepared pan, using a spatula to distribute evenly and eliminate any potential air pockets.
- Baking Alchemy: Bake for 35-50 minutes, depending on pan type. Test doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center – it should emerge clean and free from raw batter.
- Cooling Ritual: Allow cake to rest in the pan for 10 minutes, then gracefully transfer to a wire rack for complete cooling, letting the flavors settle and intensify.
- Serving Artistry: Present the cake in its pure form, or elevate with a delicate powdered sugar dusting or decadent cream cheese frosting for ultimate indulgence.
Notes
- Measure Precisely: Use exact measuring tools for dry and wet ingredients to maintain the cake’s delicate texture and balanced flavor profile.
- Room Temperature Ingredients: Allow butter, eggs, and applesauce to reach room temperature before mixing, ensuring smoother blending and more consistent cake structure.
- Avoid Overmixing: Fold ingredients gently and minimally to prevent developing tough gluten, which can make the cake dense and heavy.
- Moisture Management: Choose unsweetened applesauce to control sugar levels and prevent excessive sweetness while maintaining the cake’s signature moist consistency.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 174
- Sugar: 13 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 32 mg