Applesauce Spice Cake with Brown Sugar Icing Recipe
This Applesauce Spice Cake with Brown Sugar Icing is a warm, cozy dessert that combines the comforting flavors of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves with moist applesauce. Topped with a rich, buttery brown sugar icing, this cake brings old-fashioned charm to your table, perfect for fall gatherings or anytime you crave a nostalgic treat.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
For the Cake:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup buttermilk (or milk with 1 tsp vinegar as a substitute)
For the Brown Sugar Icing:
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- ¼ cup milk
- 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prepare the cake batter: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×13-inch baking pan. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt. In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract. Stir in the applesauce until well combined. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients in batches, alternating with buttermilk. Mix until just combined—do not overmix.
- Bake the cake: Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly. Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool completely before icing.
- Make the brown sugar icing: In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in brown sugar and cook for 2 minutes until smooth and bubbly. Add milk and bring to a gentle boil, then remove from heat. Gradually whisk in powdered sugar and vanilla extract until smooth and spreadable. If it thickens too quickly, add a splash of milk.
- Frost and serve: Pour the warm icing over the cooled cake and spread evenly. Let the icing set for at least 15 minutes before slicing.
Notes
- Substitute buttermilk with regular milk mixed with 1 teaspoon vinegar or lemon juice if you don’t have buttermilk.
- Do not overmix the batter to keep the cake light and tender.
- Allow the cake to cool completely before icing to prevent the icing from melting.
- For an extra moist cake, store wrapped tightly at room temperature for up to 2 days.
- The spices can be adjusted based on your preference for more or less intensity.
Keywords: Applesauce spice cake, brown sugar icing, cozy dessert, fall cake, old-fashioned cake, cinnamon nutmeg cloves cake, moist spice cake
