This applesauce cake recipe is moist, delicious and perfect for any day. The cake features plump raisins, as well as walnuts and the perfect combination of cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon to spice things up.
Applesauce Cake
This applesauce cake recipe is perfect to make as a dessert treat, for a picnic or just because. The raisins in it are soaked in water ahead of time, which makes them extra plump and tender in the cake. As an added bonus, you may already have all the ingredients needed to make this tasty cake. Enjoy!
Ingredients for Applesauce Cake
- Raisins: Raisins add little pops of flavor and texture that pair nicely with the applesauce in this cake.
- Shortening: Shortening makes the cake moist, light and fluffy.
- Sugar: Sugar helps the cake brown and contributes to the texture.
- Egg: Eggs help the cake rise; they also add to its richness.
- All-purpose flour: There’s no need for a specialty flour in this recipe.
- Baking soda: Baking soda helps the cake become light and fluffy as it bakes.
- Ground cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg: This tasty trio makes applesauce in any form taste even better.
- Applesauce: Applesauce makes this a moist, tasty cake.
- Chopped walnuts: Nuts add a little crunch and protein to applesauce cake.
- Confectioners’ sugar (optional): A light dusting of confectioners’ sugar on top of the cake makes everything just a little more special.
Directions
Step 1: Soak the raisins
Place the raisins and hot water in a small bowl; set the bowl aside.
Step 2: Make the cake batter
In a large bowl, cream together the shortening and sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 5 to 7 minutes. Beat in the egg. In another bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, salt and spices; add this to the creamed mixture a little at a time, alternating with the applesauce and water. Drain the raisins and fold them into the batter along with the walnuts.
Step 3: Bake
Transfer the batter to a greased 13×9-inch baking pan. Bake the cake at 325°F for 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Place the pan on a wire rack to let it cool. Dust the top of the cake with confectioners’ sugar, if desired. Serve the applesauce cake warm or cold.
Recipe Variations
- Serve with ice cream: Top each slice of warm cake with a dollop of vanilla or butter pecan ice cream for a delightful treat.
- Make a sweet glaze: Drizzle a confectioners’ sugar glaze over the top for a hint of sweetness.
- Add chocolate: small chocolate chips and a tablespoon of baking cocoa turn this into a chocolate applesauce cake; here’s a full recipe that incorporates the chocolate.
How to Store Applesauce Cake
Store applesauce cake in an airtight container once it cools. It’ll keep at room temperature for several days, or up to five days in the refrigerator.
Can you freeze applesauce cake?
Yes! Applesauce cake keeps for three months in the freezer. When it’s cool, wrap it with two layers of plastic, then a layer of foil, then place it in the freezer. Let it thaw overnight in the refrigerator or for a couple hours on the counter before enjoying it again.
Applesauce Cake Tips
What other cakes could I bake with applesauce?
This delicious yogurt applesauce cake recipe incorporates fat-free yogurt into a light, fluffy applesauce cake. For something completely different, try this banana applesauce cake that has applesauce and banana as a filling between layers, plus a tasty coconut frosting. This applesauce oat cake recipe is another simple one to try; it too has an included frosting recipe.
Could I add apples to this applesauce cake recipe?
Sure! Tart apples such as Granny Smith work well in cakes; just peel them and dice them into small pieces. Add 1 to 2 cups of apples, stirring them into the batter before baking.
What else can I use to top applesauce cake?
Top warm applesauce cake with a drizzle of warm caramel syrup or add candied walnuts or pecans. Other options include a dollop of apple or honey butter or a mixture of cinnamon and sugar sprinkled on top. Yum!
Grandma's Applesauce Cake
Prep Time
20 min
Cook Time
40 min
Yield
16 servings
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup raisins
- 1 cup hot water
- 1/2 cup shortening
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon each ground cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg
- 1-1/2 cups applesauce
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
- Confectioners' sugar, optional
Directions
- Place raisins and hot water in a small bowl; set aside.
- In a large bowl, cream shortening and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Beat in egg. Combine the flour, baking soda, salt and spices; add to creamed mixture alternately with applesauce and water. Drain raisins; fold into batter with the walnuts.
- Transfer to a greased 13x9-in. baking pan. Bake at 300° for 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Place pan on a wire rack. Dust with confectioners' sugar if desired. Serve warm or cold.
Nutrition Facts
1 piece: 282 calories, 9g fat (2g saturated fat), 13mg cholesterol, 237mg sodium, 48g carbohydrate (31g sugars, 1g fiber), 4g protein.
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This moist applesauce cake recipe is a treasured heirloom passed down from my Grandma Stuit, who cooked for a family of 13 during the Depression. At reunions, it's the first dessert gone...including the crumbs! —Joanie Jager, Lynden, Washington
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