Go Back
close up shot of a slice of cake on a plate with a fork

Applesauce Cake

Applesauce Cake is a rich cake flavored with cinnamon, sugar, applesauce, walnuts, and raisins, and topped with a luscious layer of cream cheese icing.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 12

Ingredients
  

Cake

  • 2 cups flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon nutmeg
  • ½ teaspoon cloves
  • ½ cup butter, softened
  • 1 cup sugar
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • 2 eggs, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups cinnamon applesauce
  • ½ cup milk
  • 1 cup raisins
  • 1 cup walnuts, chopped

Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting

  • 8 ounces cream cheese
  • ½ cup butter, softened
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon salt

Instructions
 

Cake

  • Preheat oven to 350°F.
  • In a small bowl, pour the milk and place the raisins in the milk. Let them sit while preparing the rest of the cake.
  • Prepare a 9x13-inch pan by lining the bottom with parchment paper and spraying with nonstick spray.
  • In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg, and cloves. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl, beat together butter and sugars until mixed.
  • Add the eggs and vanilla and beat until mixed together.
  • Add the dry ingredients slowly to the butter and sugar mixture and beat just until combined.
  • Add the applesauce and mix on low just until combined.
  • Add the raisins and milk mixture and the walnuts and mix until just combined.
  • Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until a cake tester inserted in the middle of the cake comes out clean.
  • Once the cake has cooled, frost with cinnamon cream cheese frosting.

Frosting

  • In a large bowl, beat together the cream cheese and butter until smooth.
  • Add the powdered sugar and beat on low until powdered sugar is mostly mixed in.
  • Add cream, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt and mix on medium speed until all smooth and creamy.
  • Once the cake has cooled, use an offset or rubber spatula to frost the top of the cake with cinnamon cream cheese frosting.

Video

Notes

  • You could also bake this simple recipe in a bundt cake pan, a loaf pan, or make them as muffins!
  • If you want to skip the frosting, you could sprinkle the cake with powdered sugar instead.
  • Make sure the cream cheese is at room temperature so that you don't end up with lumps in your frosting.