Description
Warm nostalgia fills kitchens with Amish Applesauce Cake, a heartwarming slice of countryside comfort. Spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg, this dense, moist dessert invites you to savor generations of traditional baking wisdom.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups unsweetened applesauce
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar, packed
- 2 large eggs
Spices and Seasonings:
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Optional Mix-ins:
- ½ cup raisins
- ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans
Glaze Ingredients:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 to 3 tablespoons milk or heavy cream
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prepare the baking environment by heating the oven to 350F (175C) and coating a 9×13-inch or 9-inch round pan with grease and flour to prevent sticking.
- In a spacious mixing vessel, thoroughly blend butter with granulated and brown sugars until the mixture becomes airy and voluminous.
- Incorporate eggs individually into the creamed mixture, then introduce vanilla extract and applesauce, stirring until harmoniously combined.
- Create a separate mixing bowl to sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, ensuring even distribution of dry ingredients.
- Gently fold the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredients, stirring minimally to maintain a tender texture. If desired, fold in raisins and nuts for additional depth and complexity.
- Transfer the batter into the prepared pan, smoothing the surface with a spatula to create an even layer. Place in the preheated oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, checking doneness by inserting a toothpick near the center – it should emerge clean.
- Allow the cake to rest in the pan for 10 minutes, then carefully transfer to a wire cooling rack to reach room temperature.
- For an optional luxurious finish, whisk powdered sugar with milk or cream and vanilla extract until a silky glaze forms. Drizzle artfully over the completely cooled cake.
Notes
- Choose ripe, soft apples like Fuji or Golden Delicious for the most flavorful homemade applesauce, ensuring a moist and rich cake texture.
- Replace traditional wheat flour with gluten-free flour blend for those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivities, maintaining the cake’s delicate crumb.
- Swap raisins with dried cranberries or chopped dates for a different flavor profile and added nutritional variety, keeping the cake’s traditional rustic charm.
- Reduce sugar content by using unsweetened applesauce and cutting granulated sugar by 25%, creating a lighter, less sweet version without compromising taste.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 43 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg