I have a new love… this fabulously moist, light and delish, flavorful and sweet, super-spiced and iced sheet cake!
I’ve been obsessed with Applesauce Cake since this summer when I first made Julia Turshen’s instant-classic Applesauce Cake with Cream Cheese + Honey Frosting. Her cake is so fabulous, easy, and supremely satisfying.
I have this thing for sheet cakes… I love them. I love a classic Texas Sheet Cake and its deep cocoa flavor. Sheet cakes are so easy to cut and serve and can feed a huge crowd. Because they’re baked in a sheet pan the cooking time is very short too! My favorite part of a sheet cake is the boiled frosting. I love that you ice the cake when it’s still hot. And let’s be honest.. it’s BEST when served a little warm with ice cream!
I wanted to make my own version of a nearly OVERspiced cake in a sheet pan and drench it in super-sweet boiled icing. After a lot of research I mostly based my recipe on this spice cake from Sally’s Baking Addiction, and I based the icing on this white texas sheet cake from Inspired by Charm.
After three — delicious — tries I settled this recipe and I’m really happy with it. Let me warn you… I love a TON of spice in my spice cake! You can adjust the spice levels or even the spices you use. I think cardamom would be really nice in this cake, but I just didn’t have any on hand when I was making it.
The end results are fabulous. The texture of the cake is insanely light yet still super-moist. The crumb is perfect. You can get the texture from the grated apple and applesauce in every bite. I personally LOVE the super-sweet boiled frosting, but I think you could easily make this cake and omit the frosting and serve it with a sprinkle of powdered sugar. I was talking to my mom about the cake and she said that she would sprinkle brown sugar on top when it comes out of the oven… I think I’m going to try that out next time I can rationalize making a cake!
I love this Nordic Ware Naturals Sheet Pan… I have 6 of them and use them DAILY.
Spiced Appplesauce Sheet Cake
This super moist cake is so quick and easy to make!
Ingredients
For the cake:
- 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour 213g
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 3 tsp ground cinnamon
- 2 tsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp ground cloves
- 1 cup light cooking oil, like canola 240ml
- 1 3/4 cup light brown sugar 350g, you could also use dark brown sugar
- 1 cup unsweetened applesauce 180g
- 4 large eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup grated apple I used a large-ish gala apple
- 2 tbsp molasses optional, but I love the deep rich flavor it brings
For the frosting:
- 1/2 cup butter 113g
- 1/2 cup whole milk 125ml
- 1 pinch salt
- 5 cups confectioner’s sugar 550g
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- sprinkles are optional
Instructions
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For the cake, preheat oven to 350F and line the bottom of a sheet pan with parchment. I used a Nordic Ware Naturals half-sheet pan(16.25×11.25).
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Measure out the dry ingredients into a bowl, mix together with a fork, and set aside.
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In a large bowl measure out all the remaining ingredients and whisk them together.
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Add the dry ingredients to the wet and whisk everything together… make sure you get any brown sugar clumps that might be there hiding!
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Pour batter into prepared sheet pan and stick it in the oven for 15-18 minutes until golden brown and gorgeous.
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Remove cake from oven and put in on a rack to cool.
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While the cake is cooling a bit, prepare the frosting. IN a large sauce pan melt the butter, add the milk, salt, and vanilla, and bring to a boil and then immediately shut off the heat.
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Slowly add the confectioners sugar while stirring. I didn’t sift my sugar, but if you want a perfectly chunk-free icing you should.
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Carefully pour and spread the icing on the hot cake. I did this almost immediately, but if your frosting seems too hot you could totally wait a minute or two.
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I added sprinkles because sprinkles are fabulous.
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Allow the cake to cool a bit and the frosting to set. Serve warm if you can!
7 Comments
Hadia
April 9, 2019 at 1:59 pmThe cake looks so moist and delicious, and what makes it more special is that it is spiced!
susan | the wimpy vegetarian
April 10, 2019 at 3:45 amI would love to make this! It’s exactly the kind of snacking and dessert cake I love!
Toni | Boulder Locavore
April 12, 2019 at 12:59 amThis is definitely a must-make!!
we are all magic
May 29, 2019 at 4:26 pmThank you!
Michelle Stamp
September 7, 2020 at 3:25 pmOh wow this looks amazing! I just found your website and I am going to try a few things! It’s starting to get chilly and Autumn-y here in the UK so this cake will be perfect to warm us up! x
QUERINO DE FREITAS
October 21, 2023 at 9:58 amI HAVE JUST GOT MYSELF A SHEET PAN,SO WILL MAKE OUR APPLE SAUCE CAKE, I HAVE NEVER USED A SHEET PAN BEFORE , SO LOOKING FOWARD TO MAKING YOUR CAKE …THANKS …QUERINO
we are all magic
March 28, 2024 at 2:21 pmI hope you enjoy the cake!