Apple spice cake is a soft, tender and moist cake filled with fresh, tart apples and lots of cozy warming spices. Top this spiced apple cake with a sweet brown sugar caramel sauce. It’s the perfect, easy to make cake for fall.
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Why Should You Make This Recipe
I absolutely adore an easy and delicious apple cake. My French Apple Cake, Apple Cider Cake and Apple Crumble Cake are just a few of my favorite simple apple cake recipes from the blog. I am so excited to add this apple spice cake recipe to the blog.
- Layers of flavors and textures. From the soft, tender and moist spiced cake filled with tart, grated apples to the salty sweet caramel sauce, this easy apple cake will delight your senses.
- Easy to make. This spiced apple cake can be made using two bowls and a whisk. Enjoy this fresh apple cinnamon cake plain, with the suggested caramel sauce or with your favorite icing or buttercream.
Ingredients
This apple and spice cake recipe requires just a handful of simple ingredients to make and you probably already have them in your pantry and fridge. Here’s what you’ll need.
Apple Spice Cake
- Dry Ingredients: Gather all purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, all spice and salt.
- Wet Ingredients: Gather butter, oil, light brown sugar, sugar, eggs, applesauce, vanilla and fresh tart apples.
Brown Sugar Caramel Sauce
Gather light brown sugar, heavy cream, butter and salt.
Substitutions
Here are my recommended substitutions to make this spiced tart apple cake if you need them.
- All purpose flour: To make this apple dessert cake gluten free, use a good 1-1 gluten free flour. I recommend using the one from Bob’s Red Mill. Make sure to measure the flour by weight (270 g) rather than cups to ensure the best outcome for the apple cake.
- Ground Spices: This moist apple cake is full of the perfect blend of aromatics to make this cake really shine. Feel free to use 2 - 3 teaspoons apple pie spice in this recipe in place of the cinnamon, nutmeg, all spice and cloves.
- Baking Powder and Baking Soda: This acts as a leavener in this spicy apple cake.
- Light Brown Sugar and Granulated Sugar: This applesauce cake calls for both sugars, but maple sugar would also work well to make this spice cake recipe refined sugar free.
- Eggs: This recipe has not been tested without eggs.
- Vanilla Extract: The scent of vanilla gives a warm cozy background flavor to this cake. Use vanilla bean paste as an alternative.
- Oil: Any neutral baking oil works well. I love using avocado oil or a light tasting olive oil.
- Melted Butter: Vegan butter or plant based can also be used in place of regular unsalted butter. Make sure the butter is melted and cooled slightly before using in this spice cake with apples.
- Apples: Any tart baking apple such as Granny Smith works beautifully in this easy spiced apple dessert cake.
Variations
- Spiced Apple Loaf Cake: Prepare the cake batter as written in the recipe. Line (2) 8 x 4 loaf pans with parchment paper. Divide the batter between the two pans. Bake the apple loaf cakes for 35 - 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
- Apple Spiced Bundt Cake: Prepare the cake batter as written in the recipe. Pour into a well greased 10 inch (12 cup) capacity bundt pan. Bake for 40 - 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
- Spiced Apple Layer Cake: Prepare the cake batter as written in the recipe. Divide the cake batter between (2) 8 inch (20 cm) round cake pans. Bake about 30 - 40 minutes or toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. Cool the cake layers before assembling with buttercream. I recommend my Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting.
- Maple Buttercream Frosting: Top the spice and apple cake with an easy to make maple buttercream. Cream 6 tablespoons (85 g) room temperature unsalted butter until smooth. Cream in ¼ cup (60 g) sour cream, 1 - 2 tablespoons (15 - 30 ml) maple syrup and ¼ teaspoon salt on medium speed until creamy. On low mix in 1 ½ - 2 cups (180 - 240 g) powdered sugar. Increase the speed to medium - high until your desired consistency is reached. If needed mix in 1 - 2 tablespoons ( 15 - 30 ml) milk or heavy cream.
How To Make
Learn how to make apple spice cake in a few easy steps.
- Preheat the oven to 350 F (177 C). Lightly grease and line the bottom and two sides of a 9 x 9 inch (23 cm) cake pan with parchment paper. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, all spice and salt together until well combined.
- In a large mixing bowl whisk melted butter, oil, light brown sugar, sugar, eggs, applesauce and vanilla extract until smooth and well combined. Stir the dry ingredients into the wet until just combined. Fold in the shredded apples.
- Evenly pour the apple cake batter into the prepared pan. Bake the apple pie spice cake for 35 - 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the apple cake comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. Cool the cake pan in the pan for 10 minutes. Gently remove the cake from the pan and allow it to cool to room temperature before topping with the suggested caramel sauce or with any other frosting or icing.
- In a small sauce pan, stir the light brown sugar, heavy cream, butter and salt until combined. Bring the ingredients to a boil over medium high heat for 2 minutes. Stir as frequently needed to ensure the ingredients are melting evenly and are well combined. Once the ingredients have started boiling, start the 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and cool the homemade brown sugar caramel sauce for about 5 minutes or until warm. Pour caramel sauce over slices of the cooled spiced apple cake and enjoy.
How To Store, Freeze andThaw
- Store: Place the moist apple spiced cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. Then the cake should be transferred to the fridge for up to another 2 - 3 days. Any pieces of cake topped with caramel sauce should be stored in the fridge, not at room temperature.
- Freeze: Make sure the brown sugar apple cake is completely cooled to room temperature. Wrap the cake or cake slices in plastic wrap and place in an airtight container. Store in the freezer for up to 2 - 3 months.
- Thaw: The easiest and tastiest way to thaw the apple cake is to let it sit in the fridge overnight. Enjoy at room temperature or microwave until it’s your preferred temperature.
M’s Expert Tips
- Use tart apples meant for baking. Choose the apple you like that is also good for baking. Granny Smith, Jonagold or Honeycrisp apples are all great choices for this fresh apple cake. Feel free to leave the peel on the apples if you like.
- Bring cold ingredients to room temperature. This allows the ingredients to mix together more evenly which requires less mixing, resulting in soft, fluffy, moist and tender apple cake.
- Measure the flour properly. I highly recommend using a food scale to get perfectly measured ingredients every time.
- Don’t overmix the batter. Make sure to mix the dry ingredients into the wet until just combined.
- Use the baking times as a guide. All ovens vary and baking times should be used as a guide. As a general rule, when the apple dessert becomes very fragrant, it’s a good idea to start checking. Begin checking on the cake at the minimum baking time. A toothpick inserted into the center of the cake should come out clean. The top of the cake should be golden brown and the edges of the cake should pull gently away from the sides of the pan.
FAQs
Can this apple spice cake be made in another pan?
Yes, the recipe as written can be made in (2) 8 x 4 loaf pans, (2) 8 inch (20 cm) round cake pans or a bundt pan. Double the recipe to bake this cake in a 9 x 13 pan.
What apples are best for baking cake?
Braeburn, Cortland, Honey Gold, Honeycrisp and Granny Smith are all great options for baking. These apples have wonderful flavor and hold up well when baked in cakes.
Other Apple Desserts to Try
If you try this Apple Spice Cake recipe please rate the recipe and leave a comment below. Doing so helps other readers decide if this is a great recipe to bake. Don’t forget to tag me on Instagram using @olivesnthyme so I can see what you’re baking! - M
Apple Spice Cake Recipe
Apple spice cake is a soft, tender and moist cake filled with fresh, tart apples and lots of cozy warming spices. Top this spiced apple cake with a sweet brown sugar caramel sauce. It’s the perfect, easy to make cake for fall.
Equipment
- 1 9 x 9 (23 cm) pan
- 1 sheet parchment paper
- 1 box grater
- 1 whisk
- 1 sauce pan
Ingredients
Apple Spice Cake
- 2¼ cup (270 g) all purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- ½ teaspoon ground all spice
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
- ¼ cup (60 ml) avocado, olive oil or canola oil
- ¾ cup (150 g) light brown sugar
- ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 cup applesauce
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups Granny Smith apples, grated about 2 medium apples
Brown Sugar Caramel Sauce
- ½ cup (100 g) light brown sugar
- ½ cup (120 ml) heavy cream
- 4 tablespoons (57 g) unsalted butter, cubed
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 F (177 C). Lightly grease and line the bottom and two sides of a 9 x 9 inch (23 cm) cake pan with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, all spice and salt together until well combined.2¼ cup (270 g) all purpose flour, 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg, ½ teaspoon ground cloves, ½ teaspoon ground all spice, 1 teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon salt
- In a large mixing bowl whisk melted butter, oil, light brown sugar, sugar, eggs, applesauce and vanilla extract until smooth and well combined. Stir the dry ingredients into the wet until just combined. Fold in the shredded apples. Evenly pour the apple cake batter into the prepared pan.½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled, ¼ cup (60 ml) avocado, olive oil or canola oil, ¾ cup (150 g) light brown sugar, ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar, 2 large eggs, room temperature, 1 cup applesauce , 1 teaspoon vanilla extract , 2 cups Granny Smith apples, grated
- Bake the apple spice cake for 35 - 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the apple cake comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. Cool the cake pan in the pan for 10 minutes. Gently remove the cake from the pan and allow it to cool to room temperature before topping with the suggested caramel sauce or with any other frosting or icing.
- In a small sauce pan, stir the light brown sugar, heavy cream, butter and salt until combined. Bring the ingredients to a boil over medium high heat. Stir as frequently needed to ensure the ingredients are melting evenly and are well combined. Once the ingredients have started boiling, cook and stir constantly for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and cool the homemade brown sugar caramel saucefor about 5 minutes or until warm.½ cup (100 g) light brown sugar, ½ cup (120 ml) heavy cream, 4 tablespoons (57 g) unsalted butter, cubed , ½ teaspoon salt
- Pour caramel sauce over slices of the cooled spiced apple cake and enjoy.
Notes
Store: Place the moist apple spiced cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. Then the cake should be transferred to the fridge for up to another 2 - 3 days. Any pieces of cake topped with caramel sauce should be stored in the fridge, not at room temperature.
See the Variations section of the blog posts to make this spiced apple cake recipe in loaf pans, cake pans or a bundt pan.
did you make this recipe?tag @olivesnthyme on Instagram
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