Enjoy your favorite fall flavors in every bite of Applesauce Cake! Applesauce gives the cake the most amazing moisture while a medley of warm spices give it the best autumnal flavor. There’s also a good mix of dates and walnuts spread throughout the cake to give it the best combination of textures in each bite!

A single slice of applesauce cake is on a white plate.


Applesauce Cake

This is the easy (as in so easy it’s pretty impossible to mess up) fall dessert recipe of your dreams! The apple flavor is pretty subtle here – it’s the spices that really shine in this cake. Allspice, cloves and cinnamon are the keynotes of warm fall flavor. They’re enhanced by sweet brown sugar to create the cozy fall vibes we all love so much!

The main ingredient, applesauce, is used to make the consistency of the cake as moist as possible without being overly dense. There is apple flavor present in this cake but it’s pretty subtle. While this cake is pretty moist, it’s also got great consistency from the chewy dates and crunchy walnuts that are speckled throughout it. There’s so much to love about applesauce cake!

I have a ton of fall baking recipes I love – and this one might just be one of my favorites. Not just because it’s so delicious either… But also because it’s a real cinch to whip up. You just have to make the batter by mixing the ingredients in order, bake it, and enjoy! I’ve also included tips and tricks on how to make it a bundt cake if that’s what your goal is.

A baked applesauce cake is presented in a blue baking dish.

How to Make Applesauce Cake

  1. Prepare. Preheat the oven to 350°F and spray a 9×13 pan.
  2. Mix the wet ingredients. Cream the butter, add the sugars and mix well until combined. Mix in the egg, yolk, applesauce and buttermilk.
  3. Mix the dry ingredients. Whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and spices.
  4. Make the batter. Add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix until combined. Fold in the nuts and dates.
  5. Bake. Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and bake for 40 minutes.
  6. Enjoy! Once cooled, dust your applesauce cake with some powdered sugar or top with the frosting of your choice. Whipped cream cheese frosting is a great option!
A single piece of cake has been removed from the baking dish.

Can I make this a bundt cake?

Yes! Make sure to grease and flour every nook and cranny of your bundt pan to make sure no part of the cake gets stuck. Bake at 350°F for about 55 minutes. Check out my chocolate peppermint bundt cake recipe for more bundt cake tips and tricks.

Ingredient For Apple Sauce Cake

Here are just a few notes about what goes into applesauce cake! Scroll down for the full list of ingredients with exact measurements.

  • Applesauce – Any store-bought brand should work just fine. If you really feel like showing off, try my Crockpot applesauce recipe.
  • Buttermilk – Learn all about how to make buttermilk with just 2 ingredients HERE!
  • Flour – When measuring flour, I like to spoon it into the measuring cup. If you dip the cup straight into the bag, you really pack it in there. Packed flour can result in too much flour.
  • Spices – Cinnamon, allspice, and ground cloves create the very best spiced fall flavor.
  • Nuts – Chopped walnuts are my favorite, but chopped pecans also work great.
  • Dates – Chopped dates are an optional ingredient. I like to toss them in because they add a chewy texture and additional sweet flavor.

How To Store Applesauce Cake

Once it’s fully cooled to room temperature, you can store this cake in an airtight container at room temperature for about 3-4 days. It’s great for making the day before Thanksgiving – I know from experience!

A fork has removed a small bite of cake from a slice.

Enjoy more of my favorite fall cake recipes!

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A single slice of applesauce cake is on a white plate.

Get the Recipe: Applesauce Cake Recipe

Yield: 12
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Studded with nuts and dates, this easy Applesauce Cake is tender, moist perfection with hints of fall spice!
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Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup butter, 1 stick, softened
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 2 egg
  • 2 cups applesauce
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk
  • 2 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon. baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
  • 1 cup Chopped dates, optional

Equipment

  • 1 9×13 baking dish

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • Coat a 9 x 13″ baking pan with cooking spray, or grease and flour a bundt pan.
  • In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter. Add the sugars and beat well.
  • Add the eggs. Mix well. 
Add the applesauce and buttermilk mixing to combine.
  • In a separate bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix on medium/low speed until incorporated.
  • Stir in the chopped nuts and dates, if using.
  • Pour the mixture into your prepared pan and bake until a toothpick comes out with only a few dry crumbs, approximately 40 minutes for a 9×13 inch dish. (55 minutes for a bundt cake)
  • Cool to room temperature. Dust the top with powdered sugar or top it with your favorite frosting.
Calories: 299kcal, Carbohydrates: 52g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 9g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Trans Fat: 0.3g, Cholesterol: 49mg, Sodium: 546mg, Potassium: 197mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 29g, Vitamin A: 307IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 48mg, Iron: 2mg
Author: Kellie
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American