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A slice of applesauce cake with vanilla bean frosting a a plate with a cake stand in background
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5 from 16 votes

Applesauce Cake with Vanilla Bean Frosting

This Applesauce Cake with Vanilla Bean Frosting is a one-layer cake WINNER! It's perfect for the holiday season ahead!

Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time40 minutes
Total Time1 hour
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: cake, layer cake, dessert
Servings: 9 servings
Calories: 726kcal
Author: MaryAnn Dwyer

Ingredients

Applesauce Cake

  • 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

Vanilla Bean Frosting

  • 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

Instructions

Applesauce Cake

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.

Vanilla Bean Frosting

  • 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.

Nutrition

Calories: 726kcal | Carbohydrates: 104g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 33g | Saturated Fat: 22g | Cholesterol: 103mg | Sodium: 511mg | Potassium: 235mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 80g | Vitamin A: 751IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 113mg | Iron: 2mg