Applesauce Cake with Caramel Frosting
Applesauce cake is a cozy, spiced dessert that stays incredibly moist thanks to the addition of applesauce. Topped with a buttery caramel frosting, it's the perfect cake to enjoy during the fall season.
Servings: 12 servings
Ingredients
For the applesauce cake
- 8 tbsp (1 stick) unsalted butter room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup dark brown sugar lightly packed
- 2 large eggs
- 1 ½ cups applesauce
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ tsp baking powder
- 1 ½ tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground cloves
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 tsp kosher salt
For the caramel frosting
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- ½ cup dark brown sugar lightly packed
- 2 tbsp whole milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup sifted powdered sugar
- ¾ cup walnuts toasted and chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9 x 9-inch cake pan with nonstick spray. Line with parchment and spray again. Then, set it aside.
- Mix the wet ingredients: In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy, 3 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing in between each until incorporated. Mix in the applesauce. The batter will seem very loose and curdled, but that is completely normal.8 tbsp (1 stick) unsalted butter, 1 cup granulated sugar, ½ cup dark brown sugar, 2 large eggs, 1 ½ cups applesauce
- Add the dry ingredients: Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and salt. Mix until just combined, 2 minutes. Remove the bowl from the mixer and use a spatula to scrape the bottom of the bowl, ensuring the batter is mixed evenly.2 cups all-purpose flour, ¼ tsp baking powder, 1 ½ tsp baking soda, 1 tsp ground cinnamon, ½ tsp ground cloves, ½ tsp ground nutmeg, 1 tsp kosher salt
- Bake: Pour into prepared pan and bake until a toothpick or skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean, about 35-45 minutes. While the cake is cooling, make the frosting.
- Make the frosting: In a 4-quart saucepan, combine the butter, brown sugar, and milk. Melt on medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. Continue to cook until the mixture begins to boil, and let it boil lightly for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and cool for 10-15 minutes. Add vanilla and powdered sugar. Whisk until smooth and thick.4 tbsp unsalted butter, ½ cup dark brown sugar, 2 tbsp whole milk, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1 cup sifted powdered sugar
- Frost: Once the cake is completely cool, frost the cake. Sprinkle with toasted walnuts, if desired.¾ cup walnuts
Video
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 503kcal