This Apple Spice Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting is a comforting, flavor-packed dessert perfect for fall. The combination of warm spices, fresh apples, and tangy cream cheese frosting makes it irresistible for any gathering.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe:

Moist, tender cake with a soft crumb
Full of warm autumn spices like cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg
Cream cheese frosting adds a rich, tangy complement to the apple cake
Perfect balance of sweetness and spice

Ingredients You’ll Need:

For the Apple Spice Cake:

2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons cinnamon
½ teaspoon ginger
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
⅔ cup vegetable oil
¾ cup white sugar
¾ cup brown sugar, packed
3 large eggs, room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 ½ cups grated apple
⅓ cup sour cream

For the Cream Cheese Frosting:

⅓ cup unsalted butter, softened
8 oz full-fat cream cheese, brick-style
3 cups powdered sugar
1-2 tablespoons heavy cream, as needed
Optional: chopped walnuts for garnish

How to Make Apple Spice Cake:

Step-by-Step Instructions:

Preheat & Prep: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a 9×13-inch baking pan.
Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg.
Mix Wet Ingredients: In another bowl, beat together vegetable oil, sugars, eggs, and vanilla. Stir in applesauce, grated apple, and sour cream.
Combine: Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, beating on low until just combined.
Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Let the cake cool completely.
Make Frosting: Beat softened butter until smooth, then mix in cream cheese until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating until fluffy. Add heavy cream as needed to reach the desired consistency.
Frost & Serve: Once the cake has cooled, frost it with the cream cheese frosting. Garnish with chopped walnuts if desired.

Helpful Tips:

Use tart, firm apples like Granny Smith for the best flavor.
Sour cream can be swapped with plain Greek yogurt.
Make sure the cake is fully cooled before frosting to prevent melting.

Details:

Prep Time: 45 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
Yield: 15 pieces
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Notes:

Store leftover cake in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Bring to room temperature before serving.
The cake can be made a day in advance. Wrap it tightly and store at room temperature, frosting just before serving.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I substitute applesauce with apple butter?
It’s best to use applesauce, as it gives a lighter texture.

Can I use this recipe for cupcakes?
Yes, but adjust the baking time to about 20-25 minutes.

Storage Instructions:

Refrigerate the frosted cake in an airtight container for up to 4 days. For longer storage, freeze the unfrosted cake for up to 2 months. Thaw it in the fridge before frosting and serving.

Related Recipes:

Conclusion:

This Apple Spice Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting is a perfect fall treat, combining the cozy flavors of cinnamon and apple with a creamy, tangy frosting. It’s a must-try for autumn gatherings!

Apple Spice Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Author: Martha

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Description

Ingredients

Scale

2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons cinnamon
½ teaspoon ginger
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
⅔ cup vegetable oil
¾ cup white sugar
¾ cup brown sugar, packed
3 large eggs, room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 ½ cups grated apple
⅓ cup sour cream

Instructions

Preheat & Prep: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a 9×13-inch baking pan.
Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg.
Mix Wet Ingredients: In another bowl, beat together vegetable oil, sugars, eggs, and vanilla. Stir in applesauce, grated apple, and sour cream.
Combine: Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, beating on low until just combined.
Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Let the cake cool completely.
Make Frosting: Beat softened butter until smooth, then mix in cream cheese until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating until fluffy. Add heavy cream as needed to reach the desired consistency.
Frost & Serve: Once the cake has cooled, frost it with the cream cheese frosting. Garnish with chopped walnuts if desired.

Notes

Store leftover cake in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Bring to room temperature before serving.
The cake can be made a day in advance. Wrap it tightly and store at room temperature, frosting just before serving.