Applesauce Cake with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting
This applesauce cake is moist and soft, spiced with cinnamon, ginger, and clove. The batter is made with browned butter for a nutty flavor that complements the applesauce. It's topped with a simple maple cream cheese frosting.
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Ingredients
For the Cake
- 1 cup unsalted butter 2 sticks
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
- 2 cups unsweetened applesauce
- 3 large eggs
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 1/2 tsp ground cloves
For the Frosting
- 8 oz cream cheese softened
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter 1 stick, softened
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tbsp pure maple syrup
- 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Brown butter in saucepan over medium-low heat until golden and nutty, about 5-8 minutes. Transfer to bowl to cool.
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease 9x13 pan and line with parchment paper.
- Whisk flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves in medium bowl.
- Mix cooled brown butter, sugars, eggs, vanilla, and applesauce in large bowl until smooth.
- Fold dry ingredients into wet ingredients until just combined.
- Pour batter into prepared pan and bake 30-35 minutes until toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool completely on wire rack.
- Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add powdered sugar gradually, then mix in maple syrup, vanilla, and cinnamon. Beat 2-3 minutes until fluffy.
- Spread frosting over cooled cake.
Notes
Store cake covered in refrigerator up to 1 week.
Tried this recipe?Leave a comment below & let me know!