🍎 Amish Applesauce Cake
Moist, warmly spiced, old-fashioned, and wonderfully simple, this Amish Applesauce Cake is the kind of homemade dessert that tastes like it came straight from a country kitchen. Unsweetened applesauce keeps the cake tender and moist while cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves create its cozy autumn flavor.
Perfect with coffee, tea, whipped cream, or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
⏱ Recipe Information
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Bake Time: 40–50 minutes
Total Time: About 1 hour
Yield: 10–12 servings
Difficulty: Easy
Method: Oven-Baked
Ingredients
- 2½ cups (315 g) all-purpose flour
- 1½ cups (300 g) granulated sugar
- 1 cup (240 g) unsweetened applesauce
- ½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter, softened
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- ½ teaspoon salt
Optional Additions
- ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans
- ½ cup raisins
- Powdered sugar, for dusting
Instructions
1. Prepare the Oven and Pan
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
Grease a 9-inch round cake pan or an 8 × 8-inch square baking pan.
For easy removal, line the bottom with parchment paper.
2. Cream the Butter and Sugar
Place the softened butter and granulated sugar in a large mixing bowl.
Beat with a hand mixer or stand mixer for approximately 2–3 minutes, until light and creamy.
Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
3. Add the Eggs
Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
Mix in the vanilla extract.
The mixture should be smooth and well combined.
Add the Applesauce
4. Mix in the Applesauce
Add the unsweetened applesauce to the butter mixture.
Mix on low speed until incorporated.
Don’t worry if the mixture looks slightly curdled—that’s normal.
Combine the Dry Ingredients
5. Whisk the Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together:
- Flour
- Baking soda
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
- Cloves
- Salt
Mix thoroughly so the spices and baking soda are evenly distributed.
6. Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the applesauce mixture.
Mix on low speed or fold gently with a spatula until just combined.
Do not overmix.
Stop as soon as no dry streaks of flour remain.
Optional:
Fold in ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans or ½ cup raisins.
Bake the Cake
7. Transfer to the Pan
Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
Smooth the surface with a spatula.
Tap the pan gently on the counter once to remove any large air bubbles.
8. Bake
Bake for approximately 40–50 minutes.
The cake is ready when:
- The top is golden brown.
- The center springs back lightly when touched.
- A toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
If using an 8 × 8-inch pan, begin checking around 40 minutes.
Cool
9. Let the Cake Rest
Remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool in the pan for 10–15 minutes.
Run a knife gently around the edges if necessary.
Transfer the cake to a wire rack and allow it to cool further.
For the cleanest slices, let it cool completely.
Finish and Serve
10. Dust With Sugar
Once completely cool, dust the top lightly with powdered sugar.
This is optional, but it gives the cake a beautiful old-fashioned finish.
Slice and serve.
🍎 Optional Simple Glaze
For a sweeter finish, combine:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1–2 tablespoons milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Whisk until smooth.
Drizzle over the cooled cake and allow the glaze to set for approximately 15 minutes.
⭐ Chef’s Tips
Use Unsweetened Applesauce
The recipe already contains plenty of sugar. Unsweetened applesauce keeps the sweetness balanced.
Don’t Overmix
Once the flour is incorporated, stop mixing. Overmixing can make the cake dense.
Room-Temperature Butter
Softened butter creams much more effectively with the sugar, creating a lighter crumb.
Let It Cool
The applesauce makes this cake particularly moist. Allowing it to cool completely helps the crumb set and makes slicing easier.
Even More Apple Flavor
Add ½ teaspoon apple pie spice along with the cinnamon for a stronger apple-pie character.
🍂 Delicious Variations
Amish Apple Nut Cake
Fold in ½ cup toasted walnuts or pecans.
Apple Raisin Cake
Add ½ cup raisins. For especially plump raisins, soak them in warm water for 10 minutes and drain thoroughly before adding.
Caramel Apple Cake
Drizzle cooled slices with warm caramel sauce.
Cream Cheese Frosting
Top with a thin layer of cream cheese frosting for a richer dessert.
Streusel Topping
Before baking, sprinkle the batter with a mixture of flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and cold butter for a crunchy topping.
Storage
Store the cooled cake in an airtight container.
Room temperature: Up to 3 days
Refrigerator: Up to 5 days
If refrigerated, let the cake sit at room temperature for about 15–20 minutes before serving for the best texture.
Freezing
Wrap the completely cooled cake tightly in plastic wrap, followed by aluminum foil.
Freeze for up to 3 months.
Thaw overnight in the refrigerator or several hours at room temperature.
Add powdered sugar or glaze after thawing.
🍎 Recipe Summary
This Amish Applesauce Cake is wonderfully humble and comforting—a soft, moist cake infused with cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, with applesauce providing natural moisture and a subtle apple flavor.
It’s simple enough for an everyday treat but cozy enough for a holiday table.
Serve a slice with a hot cup of coffee or tea and enjoy a taste of old-fashioned homemade baking.