This Applesauce Cake with Vanilla Bean Frosting is a one-layer cake WINNER! It’s perfect for the holiday season ahead!
One week and counting folks! The Thanksgiving holiday will be here before we know it. Brace yourselves!
I’m putting all the finishing touches on our holiday menu as I speak.
Today, I’m sharing our incredibly delicious dessert that’s sure to make the cap off to our 2019 Thanksgiving meal especially memorable. It’s that good guys! And SUPER easy which makes it even better in my book.
This Applesauce Cake with Vanilla Bean Frosting is from one of my favorite magazines, Bake from Scratch! I can’t tell you how many recipes I’ve made from their magazine over the years. And they’ve all been spot on amazing!
I grew up enjoying an applesauce cake from a local orchard that my entire family adored, so when I saw this recipe in the magazine, I knew I’d have to try it.
It did not disappoint.
I immediately zoned in on this recipe for another reason. It’s a one layer cake. You know I’m not especially talented when it comes to cake decorating. I know my limits. I push myself every now and then, but I leave the major cake decorating to those with skills. Lol!
This cake has double the vanilla flavor. The recipe calls for vanilla extract in the cake and vanilla bean paste in the frosting. I especially love the noticeable flecks of vanilla in the frosting. And they use cream cheese in the frosting which make it nice and velvety too. My fave!
The applesauce gives the cake an extra-tender crumb and a natural sweetness and a smidge of buttermilk adds a bit of tang.
I’m so excited to share this cake with family and friends at our Thanksgiving celebration this year. Hope you all give it a try too. Bet it will become a holiday favorite at your house too. Enjoy!
A few other favorite holiday desserts that are definitely worth a peek are my Mini Pumpkin Praline Upside Down Cakes, my Honey Pecan Bundt Cake, my Apple Cider Doughnut Bundt Cake with Brown Sugar Ripple.
A Few Cook’s Notes for Applesauce Cake with Vanilla Bean Frosting Recipe:
Bake from Scratch Magazine uses vanilla bean paste in the frosting. I LOVE the flecks of vanilla it gives the frosting. If you do not have vanilla bean paste, you can substitute vanilla extract in an equal amount.
This recipe yields one 9-inch cake.
This Applesauce Cake with Vanilla Bean Frosting is a one-layer cake WINNER! It's perfect for the holiday season ahead!
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp. baking powder
- 2 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp. kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp. baking soda
- 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
- 1/4 tsp. ground cloves
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1/2 cup whole buttermilk, room temperature
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 8 oz. cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 4 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
- 1 Tbsp. vanilla bean paste
- 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line the bottom of your 9-inch springform pan with parchment. Spray the sides of the pan lightly with nonstick cooking spray with flour.
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In a large bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, baking soda, ginger and cloves together. In another bowl, whisk together sugar, applesauce, buttermilk, oil, eggs and the vanilla extract until well blended. Pour the wet mixture into the dry mixture and fold in until combined. Pour mixture into prepared pan, smoothing the top with an offset spatula.
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Bake until wooden pick inserted in center of cake comes out clean, about 35-40 minutes. Cool in pan for 15 minutes, then remove and cool completely on wire rack. Top cooled cake with vanilla bean frosting.
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In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese until smooth at medium-low speed, about 2 minutes. Add the butter and beat for an additional 2 minutes, scraping down the sides as needed. Add the sifted confectioners' sugar, one cup at a time, making sure to beat well after each addition. Increase speed to medium-high and add vanilla paste and salt. Beat for 2 more minutes. Use immediately to frost cooled cake.
Adapted from Bake from Scratch Magazine September/October 2019 Magazine
Bake from Scratch really does have the best recipes! This looks incredible–I love the pillowy frosting on top! I need to try it soon!
I LOVE their magazine Kelsie! This one is absolutely delicious! I’ve already made it a few times this fall!
Love everything about this! I am layer cake challenged as well, so I love single layer cakes like this and the applesauce with that beautiful frosting is calling my name :)
I have no patience for cake decorating Jennifer! Simple one layer cakes are my jam! And this one is divine!
I love single layer cakes, and this will definitely make an appearance during the holidays!! And that frosting? Forget about it!! Shared!
It’s so good Annie! Bet your family would love it. Thanks for sharing!
I have to look into getting the magazine Bake from Scratch. The cake looks great. I love all the vanilla flavor.
You’d LOVE it Gerlinde! It’s my favorite. I’ve made so many recipes over the years and have shared a few here on the blog and loved each and every one I’ve tried! Happy holidays!
Love baking with apple sauce and the texture of this cake looks incredible! I could eat that vanilla bean frosting right off the top too! Pinning and can’t wait to try it!
I know you’d just love it Leanne! Happy holidays!
Well, first things first, I simply MUST disagree with you, Mare! You are incredibly talented at decorating baked goods!!! You want to see sad decorating skills? Come on over to my house. LOL! Now for this delicious beauty – YUM!!! I’ve never had an applesauce cake and I’m 10000000% sure I’ve been missing out! This looks and sounds absolutely scrumptious! I love that you paired it with Vanilla Bean Frosting! And, I too, love that it’s just one layer! Pinned!
Lol! I just don’t have enough patience Chey! Bake from Scratch’s recipe is spot on delish! Hope you give it a try! And thanks so much for pinning!
This cake is perfect for any celebratory meal! Apple and vanilla go so well together so I bet this cake tastes like a dream! Wish I had a big ol’ piece right now! Pinned! Happy weekend ahead, lovely :)
Happy weekend to you too Dawn! Thanks so much for pinning!
I applesauce cakes, Mary Ann – this is perfect for Thanksgiving or anytime really. I’d love a slice in the afternoon with a cup of tea. Applesauce really is a great baking secret – I use it in banana bread all the time. Love the tang of buttermilk as well!
You’d would absolutely love this cake Geraldine! So moist and that frosting! Sooooo good! Gotta love Bake from Scratch Mag!
I think the majority of us prefer the one layer cakes, Mary Ann! It sure makes dessert less stressful, haha! I love the flavors of this one, and the story behind its inspiration too. I might need to make a double batch of that frosting, though, because I’d eat half of it in one go!
Lol! I love one layer cakes Katherine! You’re right. So much less stressful!
This is soooo my kind of cake. I love Apple and vanilla, they just make me want to sit down with a cup of coffee and relax!
You would really enjoy it Matt!
I was wondering if I use homemade sweetened applesauce, should I cut the sugar out or cut it down to 1/2 cup of sugar. And can i use a 9×13 pan instead of a springform pan? Would like to give this recipe a try!
Hi Kris.I have actually used sweetened applesauce and unsweetened in this recipe and I kept the sugar quantity the same in both cases and the cake turned out delicious. You could use a 9x9x2 inch pan or even make cupcakes. keep the oven at the same temp, but just keep your eye on the time to make sure you don’t over bake. Hope you enjoy it as much as we do!! It’s a winner!
i adore vanilla bean paste and the gorgeous flecks. yummo! this cake sounds delicious, and i love lots of frosting.. cheers sherry
It’s so incredibly yummy! I’m so excited to share it on Thanksgiving day! Happy holidays Sherry and thanks so much for following along here at the BHK!
Completely agree: apple (sauce )and vanilla cannot disappoint at all ! definitely keeping :-)
Hope you give it a go Davorka!
What a dreamy cake, Mary Ann! Between the applesauce and that creamy frosting – YUM! I love one layer cakes, too. They’re much more snackable and the easy frosting that doesn’t require any decorating skills – because I don’t have them either – is right up my alley!
Lol! One layer cakes are my jam Kelly! No chance to mess them up because they’re easy peasy! Hope you give this one a go!
Mary Ann – this looks so delicious. The applesauce adds so much flavor and helps keep the cake moist. And I’m all about that frosting! This is a perfect Thanksgiving dessert!
t really is Kathy! We LOVE it! Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!
Double the vanilla? You know I’m in Mare! Those vanilla bean flex have my heart! No doubt a one layer cake is so much less fussy than a layer cake. Too, it’s just more practical for holiday gatherings! I love Bake From Scratch too – SO much inspiration and FUN! I love how you’ve highlighted their applesauce cake.
Thanks Traci! This one was so delicious. With all the work that goes into the big meal, I need and easy dessert! Have a Happy Thanksgiving Traci!
This is a stunner of a cake, Mary Ann! Loving that fluffy, mile high frosting…pure heaven. A perfect treat to round out a Thanksgiving feast!
Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving, my friend! xo
Thanks so much Marissa! The best of Thanksgivings to you too!!
Wonderful cake Mary Ann! I took it to my in-laws to eat after we left Thanksgiving. It will be perfect for them to nibble with their coffee &/or friends at their senior home. I wish I made two! Thank you!!
So happy you gave it a try Amanda! We enjoyed ours too! Thanks so much for following and Happy Holiday Season!
Hello, I’m so looking forward to making this for my family this upcoming holiday…but I would love to hear your thoughts on making this a two-layer cake with an apple pie filling.
This is one of my fall favorites Cassye! You could definitely make two different layers. And an apple pie filling sounds delicious! You could make your own homemade apple pie filling or grab some store-bought. Let me know how it turns out!