This recipe was originally a fall recipe, but time got away from me. This apple cake is spiced, baked with fresh apples, and a tad decadent in its sweetness. I’m particularly satisfied with the crumb. It’s even, soft, and moist. The apple flavor comes from the use of applesauce and fresh apples, delicate yet satisfying. I usually say that I prefer to eat chilled cakes, but I will make an exception here: this cake tastes great warm out of the oven! The warmth really brings out the spices especially.
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Tools and Other Notes
- No mixer needed. You can make this recipe by hand.
- Unsweetened apple sauce. This recipe uses unsweetened apple sauce, which tastes fresher and allows for control of the amount of sugar in the cake. I will say that when I tried this recipe with a freshly made applesauce I bought from a market (which was delicious), the water content was too high! Which gave me unusual results. You probably know some applesauces that come in jars in the supermarket – try to find a jarred, unsweetened applesauce to your taste with a similar water content and consistency, with as little additives as possible. It results in a moist cake crumb and adds to the star flavor – apple, of course.
- Apples. Fresh, diced apples boost the apple flavor and add a nice texture.
- Lemon glaze. The optional lemon glaze pairs well with the apple flavor and adds a summery freshness. It uses lemon paste as the flavoring. I’ve run into the issue of homemade powdered sugar glazes tasting, well, powdery – maybe you have too? I found what helped was to vigorously whisk the ingredients together, like for a minute or two, as opposed to simply whisking until just combined. I didn’t end up with frosting and the powdery taste went away almost completely. Let me know if this tip helps you in the comments!
- Bundt pan. I used a 10 cup/2.4 liter bundt pan for this recipe. If you use a differently shaped cake pan, make sure it fits that capacity and adjust the baking time as needed.
- Storage. Store the cake in the fridge and eat within a few days. You can warm up the cake in the oven or the microwave.
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Ready, Set, Bake!
Spiced Apple Cake
Prep Time: 1 hour
Cook Time: 40 – 45 minutes
Yield: 1 cake
Cake Ingredients
- 325g flour
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp allspice
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp cloves
- 150g softened butter
- 125g granulated sugar
- 125g brown sugar
- 1 tbsp vanilla
- 3 eggs
- 150g whole milk
- 200g unsweetened applesauce
- 200g finely diced apples
(Optional) Lemon Glaze Ingredients
- 90g powdered sugar
- 30g whole milk
- 2 tsp lemon paste
Cake Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° F/177° C. Prepare the bundt pan or other cake pan by buttering and dusting it with flour.
- Pour the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, allspice, nutmeg, and cloves into a bowl. Whisk to combine.
- Add the softened butter, granulated and brown sugars to a bowl and whisk until well combined.
- Add the vanilla and the eggs, one at a time, and whisk until combined.
- Add the whole milk and unsweetened applesauce to the wet ingredients and whisk to combine. The wet ingredients may not look like a smooth mixture, but don’t worry – they will combine with the dry ingredients to form a stable batter.
- One portion at a time, add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, gently stirring with a whisk or spatula just until a smooth batter is formed.
- Peel and finely dice the apples.
- After dicing, immediately fold the apples into the batter, gently with a spatula.
- Pour the batter into the prepared bundt pan and bake at 350° F/177° C for 40 – 45 minutes, until the top is set or a toothpick comes out clean.
- While the cake is still warm (but not piping hot), gently remove it from the pan. You can do this by tapping the sides and bottom to loosen it. Give the pan a jiggle – the cake should move easily. Then turn it out of the pan and onto a plate.
- (Optional) When the cake has cooled some, add the glaze.
- Enjoy the cake warm. Store in the fridge.
(Optional) Glaze Instructions
- Pour the powdered sugar, whole milk, and lemon paste into a bowl.
- Whisk vigorously for 1 – 2 minutes, until the glaze is smooth.
- Drizzle onto the cooled cake for a fresh, complimentary lemon flavor.
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