Description
Delicious homemade apple spice cake with cream cheese frosting that can be made gluten-free or dairy-free. Perfect for fall baking!
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups all-purpose flour (or 1:1 gluten-free flour blend)
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened (or coconut oil)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
- 2 large eggs
- 1 1/2 cups applesauce
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened (or dairy-free alternative)
- 1/4 cup butter, softened (or vegan butter)
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt.
- In a large bowl, cream together butter and both sugars until light and fluffy.
- Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in applesauce and vanilla.
- Gradually fold in the dry ingredients until just combined.
- Pour batter evenly into prepared pans and bake for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
- For the frosting, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar and vanilla, beating until creamy.
- Once cake layers are completely cool, frost between layers and outside of cake.
Notes
- For gluten-free option, substitute regular flour with a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend.
- For dairy-free option, use coconut oil instead of butter and a dairy-free cream cheese alternative.
- Store cake covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Let refrigerated cake come to room temperature before serving for best flavor.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 35g
- Sodium: 250mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 52g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
Keywords: apple cake, spice cake, cream cheese frosting, fall baking, applesauce cake
