Super moist and packed with warm spices, this Mini Applesauce Spice Cake makes for a fun fall treat. Enjoy it plain, dusted with powdered sugar, or go all out with a layer of orange cream cheese frosting.
PREP TIME 15 minutes
COOK TIME 25 minutes
TOTAL TIME 40 minutes
Ingredients
For The Cake
- 1 cup (120 grams) All Purpose Flour, spooned and leveled
- ½ teaspoon Baking Powder
- ¼ teaspoon Baking Soda
- ½ teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon Ground Ginger
- ⅛ teaspoon Ground Nutmeg
- ⅛ teaspoon Ground Cloves
- ⅛ teaspoon Salt
- ½ cup (126 grams) Unsweetened Applesauce
- ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons (75 grams) Packed Brown Sugar
- 3 tablespoons (42 grams) Canola Oil
- ½ teaspoon Vanilla Extract
For The Frosting
- 4 tablespoons (2 ounces) Cream Cheese, at room temperature (brick style, not spread from a tub)
- 2 tablespoons (28 grams) Unsalted Butter, at room temperature
- ½ teaspoon Orange Zest
- ¼ teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- Pinch Salt
- ½ cup (60 grams) Confectioner’s Sugar, sifted
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 350°F. If using a toaster oven, adjust the cooking rack to the bottom position and select the BAKE setting. Coat a 7 x 5-inch baking dish with oil or non-stick spray.
- Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and salt in a bowl. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the applesauce, brown sugar, oil, and vanilla extract. Add the flour mixture in 2 parts, mixing until just combined. Don’t worry if the batter is a little lumpy.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan (the mixture will be thick) and spread it into an even layer. Bake until the edges are browned and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 23 to 27 minutes. Try to avoid overbaking the cake, as it is dense and will dry out quickly.
- Remove the cake from the oven and set it on a wire rack to cool completely, around 30 minutes.
- For the frosting, beat the cream cheese, butter, orange zest, and vanilla together until light and creamy, about 1 minute. Sift the confectioner’s sugar over the cream cheese mixture and beat until smooth.
- Spread the frosting onto the cooled cake, slice, and enjoy.
Notes
Less Sugar Option: The brown sugar can be reduced to ¼ cup total without affecting the texture. Of course, with less sugar, the cake will be less sweet.
For Muffins/Cupcakes: Bake for 13 to 15 minutes.
Leftovers? Refrigerate covered for 3 to 4 days.
Frosting Yield: The recipe makes about ½ cup of frosting (4.75 ounces or 135 grams). The frosting has a softer texture that is ideal for spreading but is not stiff enough for piping.
Recipe adapted from Joy Of Cooking’s Applesauce Cake.
Mini Applesauce Spice Cake is an enjoyable and simple-to-make treat that brings together the delightful combination of spices with applesauce for an irresistibly tasty treat! A quick solution for quick dessert or snack needs, its moist texture and delightful blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves is sure to please both young and old alike – whether enjoyed alone or topped with some creamy topping. Give this delightful delight a try and feel your tastebuds experience its delightful harmony of flavors in every bite!