Apple Spice Cake
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Apple Spice Cake – This delicious apple spice cake has the perfect blend of warm spices and a gorgeous texture, thanks to a double-dose of apple goodness.
Every so often, I post a recipe here that I just can’t seem to find the words to describe.
This is one of those recipes.
Please, may I beg you, implore you, beseech you, dear reader, to try this apple spice cake!!!
This isn’t your average apple cake. It isn’t your average spice cake. It is the heavenly best of both worlds.
3 Reasons To Love This Cake Recipe:
- It’s Got THE BEST Texture. This is the most moist cake I have ever EVER made. Thanks to the applesauce, butter, and sugar, it’s got a gorgeous texture you’ll fall hard for.
- It’s Perfectly Spiced. The spice amounts may seem like a lot, but when you bake it, everything blends together in the most beautiful synergistic way, and the end flavor is incredible.
- It’s Got A Double Dose Of Apple. The combination of grated fresh apple and applesauce really help the apple flavor shine.
BONUS REASON: I may also point out, that this cake is the PERFECT pair with my buttermilk syrup or some easy caramel sauce. Caramel apple vibes, anyone? Just saying.
Tips & Tricks For This Apple Spice Cake Recipe:
The Best Apples For Apple Cake. Not all apples bake the same, and some hold their shape better than others. Our two favorite kinds of apples for apple spice cake are sweet, tart apples, like Honeycrisp apples and Granny Smith apples. Both have great balanced flavor that works well with the spices, and they won’t go totally mushy or mealy when baked. (Braeburn & Pink Lady are two other nice choices!)
Measure Your Flour Carefully! To avoid a dense or gummy cake, take care to measure the flour properly. I recommend weighing the flour when possible, but at least use the scoop and level method if you don’t have a scale!
Can I Make This As An Apple Bundt Cake? If you’d like to make this in a bundt pan, make sure you grease the bundt pan properly first, as it’s a very moist cake and is more likely to stick. (I recommend adding sugar to the pan after greasing, which can help the cake come out.) Also follow these guidelines for converting cake recipes to fit different cake pans. It’ll take 50-60 minutes or so in a 10-12 inch bundt pan.
Can I Make This Gluten-Free? Yes! It should work. Or, you can make this gluten-free apple spice bundt cake I shared over at Sweets & Thank You.
More Yummy Desserts To Love:
- Gluten-Free Apple Spice Bundt Cake – Sweets & Thank You (Our Sister Site!)
- Almond Flour Pumpkin Cake With Cinnamon Frosting
- Gluten-Free Lemon Cake
- Almond Flour Banana Cake With Chocolate Ganache
Apple Spice Cake
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 1 (9×13) cake 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This delicious apple spice cake recipe has the perfect blend of warm spices and a gorgeous texture, thanks to a double-dose of apple goodness.
Ingredients
For The Wet Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup butter, softened (8 Tablespoons)
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 eggs, room temperature
- 1 cup applesauce (I prefer unsweetened)
- 2 apples, peeled, cored, and grated (I like Honeycrisp or granny smith apples)
For The Dry Ingredients:
- 2 1/4 cups (270 grams) flour
- 2–3 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon cloves
- 1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Grease a 9×13″ metal pan with butter or spray.
- In a medium bowl, combine the dry ingredients. Whisk together flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
- In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, cream butter and sugar with a hand mixer or spatula 2-3 minutes, until light, fluffy, and well combined.
- Mix in eggs, one at a time till well incorporated.
- Stir in applesauce and apples.
- Add the dry ingredients mixture and gently stir or mix till all dry ingredients are just mixed in. Don’t over-mix.
- Pour cake batter into the prepared baking dish..
- Bake at 375 degrees for 30-40 minutes or till a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack.
- Serve with buttermilk syrup, caramel sauce, or vanilla ice cream.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 35
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
Can I make this into mini bundt cakes?
Minda – I haven’t tried it in mini bundt cakes yet. It’s pretty moist, so I think it might have a tendency to stick.
OMG this cake is awesome!!!
It is the best apple cake I’ve ever made. I’m going to finish it with browned butter buttercream but had to sneak a taste lol.
Browned butter buttercream!!! I’m going to have to try that sometime!
Would it be likely this would work as a type of swiss roll? I know there’s recipes out there specifically for apple spice rolls, but this one always turns out so well, we’re hoping to keep to yours when trying it out. Thanks!
Sky – That’s a great question! I’ve never made it as a swiss roll before, so I’m not totally sure. It’s definitely a moist cake, which could mean it’s more flexible for rolling. But it’s also on the sticky side, so I worry it might not hold its shape. If you do give it a go, I’d love to know how it turns out! 🙂
I have a carrot cake that I absolutely love. I threw out all my no-longer needed similar recipes. NOW I have my favorite apple spice cake recipes 😋. Into the trash go my now useless spice cake recipe. Thanks so much for the wonderful delicious recipe
Greg – What a sweet review! I’m so glad you love it!!!
Do you use cake flour or all purpose flour?
I’ve used all-purpose flour 🙂
It was delicious and I plan to make it again and, again and, again. 😋
I’m so glad you loved it Joy!
How do you make the sauce?
Hi Edwina! It’s my buttermilk syrup recipe. Or you can make this homemade caramel sauce.
I have not tried the recipe yet, but this will be included in my Thanksgiving dinner & maybe Christmas.
It’s AMAZING for the holidays! Hope you love it!
My family went crazy over this cake!
Can gluten-free flour be substituted? (the cup-for-cup style)
You probably can! It’s a pretty moist cake, so it’d probably do well!
Seriously, Emily, this is the most moist GF cake recipe. Perhaps ever! I also make it into muffins and it never fails. Thank you so much. Pat
Pat, THANK YOU for this kind comment! You totally made my day!
can you make this using just applesauce?
I never have, so I can’t guarantee your results will be the same…
This cake is everything I look for in a cake! Super moist and delicious, spiced, and just all around great. I made this twice; once by the book, and once again but adding in some ground allspice, ground ginger, and some ground cardamom to the spices and WOW. I didn’t think the cake could get any better than it was, but adding those other spices sent it to an entirely different level! Thank you for sharing! This is being tucked into my ever-growing recipe box for sure! ♥
Oh, I’m so glad to hear that!!!
I made this recipe because I wanted an easy apple spice cake for company that loves spice cakes. It was a stellar hit and I had to print off the recipe to give to my guests. My husband literally ate the remainder of the cake within the next day-so I guess I’m making it again this weekend for him. The cake was easy, very moist, and very tasty. It’s definitely a keeper. (I made caramel sauce and served it with a good vanilla ice cream-was perfect). Thanks for the recipe!
This completely made my day! I’m so glad you loved it!
Hi Emily, thank you for the best apple cake recipe I’ve ever tasted, much less baked myself. I use gluten free flour, because we’re glutards, and people are surprised when I tell them because the texture is so perfect. I use a generous tablespoon of cinnamon and include powdered ginger in the spice mix as well. We have access to wild blackberries, so I either put some of those in or chop up fresh cranberries.
Emily, every once in a while I would think dreamily about a homemade spice cake regularly served to me as a child in the cafeteria of my grade school many years ago. Last week, I finally decided to try and find a recipe and see if I could satisfy that craving. I am from a family of fabulous cooks and bakers, so I have a discerning eye for recipes. Yours looked particularly interesting, and I loved the detailed explanations that came with the recipe. Obviously, your recipe did not disappoint. This cake brought back great memories, as I enjoyed it with a dusting of powdered sugar, just like I remember from many years back. Thank you for this!
This review completely and totally made my day. I’m so glad it satisfied that nostalgic craving!