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    Home » Cake

    Applesauce Cake

    Published: Aug 24, 2017 · Modified: Sep 19, 2023 by Kim Strawn This post may contain affiliate links. 6 Comments

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    4.28 from 11 votes

    This delicious old fashioned Applesauce Cake with a fabulous browned butter lemon frosting is easy to make. It is also a soft and flavorful cake with the pop of lemon flavor from the frosting.

    applesauce cake on a white plate with a glass of milk behind.

    It's the browned lemon butter frosting on top that makes this Applesauce Cake extra delicious. The cake is soft, flavorful of apples and cinnamon and with that topping of lemon drizzled down the side: pure deliciousness.

    Ingredients

    • flour - all purpose
    • sugar
    • baking soda
    • salt
    • baking powder
    • cinnamon
    • applesauce - unsweetened
    • water
    • shortening
    • eggs
    • raisins optional
    • powdered sugar - frosting
    • margarine - frosting
    • lemon juice - frosting

    So here is the big dilemma: Do you add raisins and nuts to the batter. Now, if you want my opinion, raisins are a sure thing. I LOVE raisins in this cake. It adds another depth to the cake that makes the cake shine even more.

    Mixing up this cake

    When making this Applesauce Cake, the best part, besides the taste, is the fact it is indeed, one bowl. From start to finish, you just put everything in a large bowl and mix it.

    No need to separate the flour from the wet ingredients. You can dump everything in and use a hand mixer and mix away.

    flour in a bowl with sugar.
    shortening and eggs.

    Types of pans to use

    The standard cake pan to use is a 9x13 cake pan. I have used a Bundt pan and also a springform pan. All work well, some temperatures will vary. The standard time for this cake is 40 minutes. A springform pan will take a few minutes longer.

    cake batter in a springform pan.

    Browned butter lemon frosting

    This frosting adds the pop of flavor to this cake that makes this cake sing. The apple flavor combined with the lemon is just plain perfect.

    When adding lemon juice to the butter/powered sugar mixture the rule is two tablespoons of lemon juice. However, you may want to add a bit more after you mix all the ingredients together. That is up to your personal taste.

    Add 1 teaspoon more at a time then stir. Then give it a taste.

    Storage/leftovers

    Store leftovers in an airtight container. You can also cover the pan tightly with foil and leave it on the counter.

    Apple recipes

    • Apple Cake with Caramel
    • Apple Cider Cupcakes
    • Apple Cider Floats
    • Blueberry Applesauce

    📖 Recipe

    applesauce cake on a white plate with cinnamon sticks.

    Applesauce Cake

    Print Pin
    4.28 from 11 votes
    Applesauce Cake is a classic old fashioned recipe topped with browned butter lemon frosting.
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Keyword applesauce cake, fall recipe, lemon
    Prep Time 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time 50 minutes minutes
    Total Time 1 hour hour 5 minutes minutes
    Servings 12 servings
    Calories 457kcal
    Author Kim Strawn
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • 1 mixing bowl
    • 1 Hand Mixer

    Ingredients

    For The Cake

    • 2 ½ cups flour all purpose
    • 1 cup sugar
    • 1 ½ teaspoon baking soda
    • 1 ½ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon baking powder
    • ¾ teaspoon cinnamon
    • 1 ½ cup applesauce unsweetened
    • ½ cup water
    • ½ cup shortening
    • 2 eggs
    • 1 cup raisins optional

    For The Frosting

    • 3 cups powdered sugar
    • ⅓ cup margarine
    • 2 T lemon juice

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 350°
    • Put all cake ingredients together in a large mixing bowl.
    • Mix with hand mixer or by hand for 30 seconds on low and 3 minutes on high.
    • Pour batter into a greased Bundt, Springform pan or 9x13 Sake pan.
    • Bake Bundt pan: 50 minutes, Springform pan: 45-50 minutes
      Cake pan: 40-45 minutes until test done.

    For Lemon Frosting

    • Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium/low heat, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and whisk in powdered sugar and lemon juice. 
      Pour over cooled cake.
    • Serve

    Nutrition

    Calories: 457kcal | Carbohydrates: 80g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 27mg | Sodium: 504mg | Potassium: 175mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 49g | Vitamin A: 275IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 21mg | Iron: 2mg
    Pin This Recipe!Follow Me on Pinterest @bakingwithmom6!

    Pin for later!

    applesauce cake on a white plate.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      4.28 from 11 votes (9 ratings without comment)

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    1. Donna Latham

      November 19, 2020 at 3:35 pm

      5 stars
      Is the applesauce sweet or unsweetened?

      Reply
      • Kim

        November 19, 2020 at 6:35 pm

        You can use either. We usually only have unsweetened at our house, but I have used both.

        Reply
    2. Amy

      January 05, 2019 at 11:11 pm

      Can you sub butter for the shortening? I'd like to make this tomorrow morning for church, but that's the only ingredient I don't have.

      Reply
      • Kim

        January 06, 2019 at 1:39 pm

        Sorry I am seeing this too late for Sunday church! I have never subbed butter for the shortening in this recipe, so I don't feel like I can answer that with confidence. I have in other recipes. If you tried it with the butter, let me know how it turned out for you!
        This is my favorite cake and I have such great memories of my mom making it for us. I hope you enjoy it! :-)

        Reply
    3. Penny

      September 23, 2018 at 11:25 am

      5 stars
      Excellent cake! Super easy to make. Very moist. Perfect snack for a cool Fall day. House is fragrant with the scent of apples and cinnamon. Good dessert for potlucks, too. Thank you for sharing this recipe. I will make this again and again.

      Reply
      • Kim

        September 25, 2018 at 11:32 am

        Thank you! This my Mom's tried and true recipe. It was a favorite of mine growing up. I'm so glad you like it!

        Reply

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    Kim Strawn owner of Baking With Mom.

    Hey There, I'm Kim! I am the owner and recipe creator here at Baking With Mom. I'm also a mom to 4 growing kids so I understand busy! Here you will find recipes that are quick, delicious and can get on the table fast. Read more about me.

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