Best Old-Fashioned Applesauce Cake
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A classic vintage recipe that’s easy enough to make with kids, today’s Old Fashioned Applesauce Cake is a comforting, gently spiced apple cake that stays moist and tender for up to a week. It’s perfect for enjoying alongside a hot mug of apple cider or tea on a cool fall day or tucking into kids’ lunchboxes as a welcome fall treat.
Vintage Applesauce Cake Recipe
Possibly my favorite thing about baking apple desserts isn’t even eating them – it’s how wonderful they make my home smell!
Don’t get me wrong, this old-fashioned applesauce cake is a classic for a reason with it’s delicate, tender crumb, fall-forward flavors of apples, warm spices and brown sugar and rich, moist texture. But, really, the main reason I look forward to baking it is the lingering smell of apples, vanilla and apple pie spice (cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, allspice and mace) that just makes my home feel cozy and autumnal on a crisp fall day.
Applesauce cakes as we know them today have roots in colonial American kitchens – it even has it’s own holiday, National Applesauce Cake Day on June 6th – and they became popular because of how reliable and budget-friendly they are, popping up in community cookbooks throughout the 20th century.
I feel like they have fallen off a bit in recent years due to the popularity of more cutesy or social media-worthy desserts, but this classic deserves a comeback.
If you love the flavor of spice cakes and the ease of snacking cakes, this old fashioned applesauce cake is the perfect addition to your fall baking line-up!
Old-Fashioned Applesauce Cake Variations:
- Swap walnuts for pecans or hazelnuts.
- Use dried cranberries or chopped apricots instead of raisins.
- Fold in a handful of chopped fresh apple.
- Try adding finely grated orange zest to the batter for a citrus note.
- Top with a simple vanilla glaze or a sprinkle of powdered sugar for added sweetness.
- Use apple butter (directions below in the FAQ section) for a more robust apple flavor.
- Swap the applesauce for pear sauce – you can even use pear baby food.
Applesauce Cake FAQs
Can I use sweetened applesauce instead of unsweetened? Yes, but you may want to reduce the added sugar slightly to avoid making the cake overly sweet.
Can this applesauce cake be made gluten-free? Yes, a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend works well in place of all-purpose flour.
Do the raisins and nuts have to be included? No, while these mix-ins are traditional, I personally don’t like adding nuts and raisins to cake so I can verify that the cake works perfectly without them, if preferred.
How should I store an applesauce cake? Keep tightly covered at room temperature for 3-5 days or refrigerated for 5-7 days.
Can this applesauce cake be frozen? Yes, wrap well with tinfoil or plastic wrap before storing in an airtight freezer bag or your favorite freezer containers (this set of freezer containers is a crazy bargain). Store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw the cake overnight in the refrigerator or at room temperature before serving.
Can I swap apple butter in for the applesauce? Yes, though you may want to adjust the sugar and be sure to pay attention to the moisture level of the batter as you may need to add a splash more of milk due to the denser consistency of apple butter. The batter should remain pourable but thick. (I personally love this swap as it results in a richer cake with a deeper apple flavor.)
Amazing Apple Butter Recipes for Fall:
- Apple Butter Snickerdoodles
- Apple Butter Cake
- Apple Spice Layer Cake
- Apple Butter Scones
- Apple Butter Pie
- and of course, make your own Instant Pot Apple Butter
Old-fashioned Applesauce Cake Ingredients
- All-Purpose Flour
- Baking Powder
- Baking Soda
- Salt
- Apple Pie Spice <– grab our homemade apple pie spice recipe
- Unsalted Butter, room temperature
- White Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Eggs, room temperature
- Vanilla Extract
- Unsweetened Applesauce
- Milk
- Golden Raisins, optional
- Walnuts, coarsely chopped, optional
Scroll down to the printable recipe card for full measurements.
Tip: Let butter and eggs reach room temperature before mixing for a smoother batter..
Tip #2: toss the raisins in a bit of flour before incorporating int othe batter to prevent them from sinking to the bottom of the cake.
Kitchen Tools You May Find Helpful
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Mixing bowl
- Electric mixer <– this is a great hand mixer if you don’t want to make the investment into a stand mixer
- 9″ x 13″ Casserole Dish <– I love these Pyrex dishes with fitted lids for easy transportation to parties or leftover storage
- Off-set spatula
How to Make Old-fashioned Applesauce Cake
Preheat the oven to 350F. Prepare a 9″ x13″ baking pan with parchment paper spritzed with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and apple pie spice. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the butter until pale and fluffy, about 3 to 5 minutes. Scrape down the sides and then add the white and brown sugars, beating until completely combined.
Beat in the eggs and vanilla, followed by the applesauce and milk.
Add the flour mixture to the mixing bowl and beat just until combined.
Fold in the raisins and walnuts. (Tip: toss the raisins in a bit of flour before incorporating int othe batter to prevent them from sinking to the bottom of the cake.)
Transfer the batter to the baking dish and spread evenly.
Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted returns clean.
Cool completely in the baking pan on a wire rack.
Lift the cake from the baking pan using the parchment paper. Gently cut into squares using a serrated knife.
Top with powdered sugar or whipped cream if desired.
Grab your free printable recipe card for our old-fashioned applesauce cake recipe:
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Old-fashioned Applesauce Cake
Ingredients
- 2 cups All-Purpose Flour
- 2 teaspoons Baking Powder
- 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 2 teaspoons Apple Pie Spice
- ½ cup Unsalted Butter, room temperature
- 1 cup White Sugar
- ½ cup Brown Sugar
- 2 Eggs, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 2 cups Unsweetened Applesauce
- ½ cup Milk
- 1 cup Golden Raisins, optional
- 1 cup Walnuts, coarsely chopped, optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F. Prepare a 9" x13" baking pan with parchment paper spritzed with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside
- In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and apple pie spice. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the butter until pale and fluffy, about 3 to 5 minutes. Scrape down the sides and then add the white and brown sugars, beating until completely combined.
- Beat in the eggs and vanilla, followed by the applesauce and milk.
- Add the flour mixture to the mixing bowl and beat just until combined.
- Fold in the raisins and walnuts. (Tip: toss the raisins in a bit of flour before incorporating int othe batter to prevent them from sinking to the bottom of the cake.)
- Transfer the batter to the baking dish and spread evenly.
- Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted returns clean.
- Cool completely in the baking pan on a wire rack.
- Lift the cake from the baking pan using the parchment paper. Gently cut into squares using a serrated knife.
- Top with powdered sugar or whipped cream if desired.
Recommended Products
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
12Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 370Total Fat: 15gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 52mgSodium: 387mgCarbohydrates: 57gFiber: 2gSugar: 36gProtein: 5g
Sugar, Spice and Glitter uses an auto-generate nutrition calculator. Nutrition information isn’t always accurate unless analyzed in a scientific lab, so these should be considered more of a guideline than medical information.
I hope your family loves this easy applesauce cake as much as mine does!
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