This simple Applesauce Cake is super easy to make with about 10 ingredients, extra moist, and full of warm spices. It’s a family recipe that’s the perfect sweet, Southern treat for breakfast, dessert or a weekend snack with friends and family.
For me, nothing tastes like tradition, family recipes are one of a kind and can’t be beat. This Applesauce Cake is my Aunt Kathy’s family recipe, and this extra moist spiced bundt cake made with applesauce, warm spices and a swirl of strawberry jam is just too good not to share with the world — you can almost taste the fun we had when making it together. Unbelievably simple to make and incredibly delicious, this Southern-inspired cake can be served for any occasion.
Baked low and slow for over an hour, this Applesauce Cake is ultra tender and flavorful, and it’s just one of those recipes you don’t question, because it’s been passed down by family for years and years, so it’s guaranteed perfection. With a super simple process and just a handful of ingredients, you can make this special cake with applesauce anytime, with ease. It’s great to make in advance, and you can add nuts or other toppings, too, so it’s perfect for entertaining, or simply as a treat at home.
If you like the flavors in this recipe, be sure to try some of our other favorite sweet treat recipes. We love these Cinnamon Roll Apple Pie Cups and this Apple Pie Ice Cream is a fun seasonal dessert.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Special Family Recipe: This is a treasured family recipe that’s been passed down and now I’m sharing it with everyone for the very first time on the blog. Nothing tastes quite as delicious as tradition.
- Incredibly Moist: Thanks to the key ingredient, applesauce, this cake is extremely tender and moist without needing extra butter.
- Unexpected Sweetness From Jam: The hint of strawberry jam adds a subtle, unexpected sweetness that’s unbelievably delicious.
- Easy To Customize: Feel free to add in raisins, nuts, or both depending on taste preferences.
Ingredients
- Sugar: For Sweetness.
- Vegetable Oil: Helps to keep the cake tender.
- Eggs: For a binder. We like size Large eggs when baking.
- Nutmeg, Cloves & Cinnamon: Warm spices to flavor the cake.
- Allspice: For even more fall flavor.
- Flour: All-purpose keeps the cake fluffy.
- Applesauce: The star ingredient, keeps the cake incredibly moist and delicious. Use your favorite variety.
- Strawberry Jam: To add just a hint of extra special sweetness.
- Baking Soda: To help the cake rise just so.
- Raisins & Nuts: Optional add-in’s for more flavor and texture.
How To Make Applesauce Cake
1. Preheat your oven to 325ºF. Start by mixing your sugar, oil, eggs and spices together.
2. In a separate bowl, whip your applesauce, jam and baking soda (careful! The soda makes it foam up quick!). Add to sugar mixture.
3. Add in the flour and mix well.
4. Add raisins and nuts (mix with a little bit of flour) if desired.
5. Pour into a greased Bundt pan and bake for 80 minutes.
6. Optional: top the cake once cooked with a vanilla or brown sugar icing! Enjoy!
Expert Tips
- Whisk Together the Wet Ingredients Carefully: When you’re mixing together the applesauce, jam, and baking soda, do this gently at first — it foams up fast.
- Toss Raisins and Nuts in Flour: If using these, do this before folding them in so they stay suspended in the batter instead of sinking. Just a little sprinkle does the trick.
- Grease the Bundt Pan: Do this thoroughly to ensure the cake removes cleanly and doesn’t stick. I recommend cooking spray or a heavy amount of softened butter. For a foolproof method, add a dusting of flour and shake any excess out.
- Let Cake Cool Before Icing: Don’t rush this step! Allowing it to cool completely will prevent the icing from melting off.
Variations & Substitutions
- Try Different Jam Flavors: Swap the strawberry jam for apricot or peach jam for a different fruity note.
- Make a Smooth Cake: Leave out the raisins and nuts for a simpler, smoother cake texture.
- Top with a Brown Sugar Icing: This will give the cake a deeper, caramel-like sweetness instead of vanilla notes.
- Add Extra Spices: An extra pinch of cinnamon or ground ginger will make a spicier, warm cake flavor.
Storage
Store leftover cake covered tightly or in an airtight container at room temperature for 2 days, in the fridge for up to 5 days, or in the freezer for 2-3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight, then to reheat, crisp the cake up in the oven at 300° if you’d like to serve it warm.
Applesauce cake is one of those recipes that actually tastes better the next day. You can make this a few days in advance, cover, and store at room temperature or in the fridge, and reheat in the oven and serve when ready.
FAQs
Definitely. We like them for added flavor and crunch, but you can definitely leave them out for a simpler, smoother cake.
The applesauce reacts to the baking soda when they’re combined, causing the mixture to bubble up. So we recommend doing this slowly and carefully at first, since it froths up quickly.
Yes – try raspberry, peach or apricot for another delicious fruity note.
Of course! You can use 2 loaf pans, cake pans, or a 9×13 pan. Just adjust the bake time if using a deeper pan. When a toothpick or knife inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, the top is slightly golden, and the edges pull away from the sides, the cake is done.
More Fall Baking Recipes
Aunt Kathy’s Spiced Applesauce Cake
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat your oven to 325. Start by mixing your sugar, oil, eggs and spices together.
- In a separate bowl, whip your applesauce, jam and baking soda (careful! The soda makes it foam up quick!). Add to sugar mixture.
- Add in the flour and mix well.
- Add raisins and nuts (mix with a little bit of flour) if desired.
- Pour into a greased Bundt pan and bake for 80 minutes.
- Optional: top the cake once cooked with a vanilla or brown sugar icing!Enjoy!
Notes
- Store leftovers covered tightly or in an airtight container at room temperature for 2 days, in the fridge for up to 5 days, or in the freezer for 2-3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight, then to reheat, crisp the cake up in the oven at 300° if you’d like to serve it warm.
- Make this a few days in advance, cover, and store at room temperature or in the fridge, and reheat in the oven to serve when ready.