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Spiced Applesauce Cake with Rum Raisins

This delightful Spiced Applesauce Cake is a timeless classic that warms both hearts and bellies. Its roots trace back to the early American settlers, who ingeniously incorporated locally abundant apples into their desserts. Over time, the recipe evolved, embracing diverse spices like cinnamon and cardamom to create a symphony of flavors. Our version introduces a modern twist with optional rum-soaked raisins for an extra kick of indulgence.

Spiced Applesauce Cake

Spiced Applesauce Cake with Rum Raisins

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cooking Time: 50 minutes – 1 hour

Servings: 12

Ingredients:

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled (360g)
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1 1/4 teaspoons ground cardamom
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature (227g)
  • 2 cups light brown sugar, packed (400g)
  • 1/4 cup honey (85g)
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 cups homemade applesauce or store-bought chunky applesauce (480g)
  • Confectioners’ sugar, optional, to taste, for topping

Optional Ingredients:

  • Rum Raisins: 1 cup raisins soaked in 1/2 cup dark rum for an hour, then drained

Spiced Applesauce Cake with Rum Raisins

How to Make Spiced Applesauce Cake

Step 1 – Preheat: Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C).

Step 2 – Grease the Pan: Generously coat a nonstick 9-inch tube pan with cooking spray.

Step 3 – Mix the Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and cardamom.

Step 4 – Cream the Butter: In another bowl, beat the butter, brown sugar, and honey together with an electric hand mixer until light and fluffy.

Step 5 – Add Eggs: Add the eggs one at a time to the butter mixture, beating after each addition until well-combined.

Step 6 – Combine Dry Ingredients: With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture. Beat until just combined.

Step 7 – Introduce Applesauce: Gently fold the applesauce into the batter. If you’re feeling adventurous, fold in the optional rum-soaked raisins for an extra layer of flavor.

Step 8 – Fill the Pan: Spoon the batter into the prepared pan and smooth out the top evenly.

Step 9 – Bake to Perfection: Bake the cake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean but slightly wet, about 50 minutes to 1 hour.

Step 10 – Cool Slightly: Allow the cake to cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes.

Step 11 – Unmold the Cake: Turn the pan onto a cutting board or baking sheet and gently invert the cake onto the wire rack, ensuring the top side is up.

Step 12 – Complete Cooling: Let the cake cool completely on the wire rack.

Step 13 – Dust and Serve: Dust the cake with confectioners’ sugar for a sweet finish. Slice and serve this delightful Spiced Applesauce Cake with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream, if desired.

Rum Raisin Spiced Applesauce Cake

Expert Tips:

  • For a moist and tender cake, avoid overmixing the batter once the flour is added.
  • Soaking raisins in rum adds a boozy, fruity dimension to the cake. Ensure they’re well-drained before incorporating them into the batter.
  • Store leftover cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for longer freshness.

applesauce cake

FAQs for Spiced Applesauce Cake:

Q1: Can I use store-bought applesauce? A1: Absolutely! Store-bought chunky applesauce works wonderfully in this recipe.

Q2: Can I make this cake without rum raisins? A2: Of course! The cake is delicious on its own, without the rum raisins. They’re entirely optional.

Q3: Can I freeze this cake? A3: Yes, you can freeze it for up to three months. Wrap slices tightly in plastic wrap and place them in an airtight container before freezing. Thaw in the refrigerator before serving.

Alternate Names:

  • Applesauce Spice Cake
  • Cinnamon-Cardamom Apple Cake
Spiced Applesauce Cake

Spiced Applesauce Cake with Rum Raisins

Yield: 12
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Indulge in the warmth of Spiced Applesauce Cake with a boozy twist—Rum Raisins! A classic dessert with a delightful kick.

Ingredients

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled (360g)
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1 1/4 teaspoons ground cardamom
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature (227g)
  • 2 cups light brown sugar, packed (400g)
  • 1/4 cup honey (85g)
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 cups homemade applesauce or store-bought chunky applesauce (480g)
  • Confectioners' sugar, optional, to taste, for topping

Optional Ingredients:

  • Rum Raisins: 1 cup raisins soaked in 1/2 cup dark rum for an hour, then drained

Instructions

Step 1 - Preheat:Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C).

Step 2 - Grease the Pan:Generously coat a nonstick 9-inch tube pan with cooking spray.

Step 3 - Mix the Dry Ingredients:In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and cardamom.

Step 4 - Cream the Butter:In another bowl, beat the butter, brown sugar, and honey together with an electric hand mixer until light and fluffy.

Step 5 - Add Eggs:Add the eggs one at a time to the butter mixture, beating after each addition until well-combined.

Step 6 - Combine Dry Ingredients:With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture. Beat until just combined.

Step 7 - Introduce Applesauce:Gently fold the applesauce into the batter. If you're feeling adventurous, fold in the optional rum-soaked raisins for an extra layer of flavor.

Step 8 - Fill the Pan:Spoon the batter into the prepared pan and smooth out the top evenly.

Step 9 - Bake to Perfection:Bake the cake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean but slightly wet, about 50 minutes to 1 hour.

Step 10 - Cool Slightly:Allow the cake to cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes.

Step 11 - Unmold the Cake:Turn the pan onto a cutting board or baking sheet and gently invert the cake onto the wire rack, ensuring the top side is up.

Step 12 - Complete Cooling:Let the cake cool completely on the wire rack.

Step 13 - Dust and Serve:Dust the cake with confectioners' sugar for a sweet finish. Slice and serve this delightful Spiced Applesauce Cake with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream, if desired.

Notes

  • For a moist and tender cake, avoid overmixing the batter once the flour is added.
  • Soaking raisins in rum adds a boozy, fruity dimension to the cake. Ensure they're well-drained before incorporating them into the batter.
  • Store leftover cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for longer freshness.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 508Total Fat: 17gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 72mgSodium: 411mgCarbohydrates: 82gFiber: 2gSugar: 55gProtein: 5g

The Nutritional Information may not be accurate. This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.

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About Julee: Julee Morrison is an experienced author with 35 years of expertise in parenting and recipes. She is the author of four cookbooks: The Instant Pot College Cookbook, The How-To Cookbook for Teens, The Complete Cookbook for Teens, and The Complete College Cookbook. Julee is passionate about baking, crystals, reading, and family. Her writing has appeared in The LA Times (Bon Jovi Obsession Goes Global), Disney's Family Fun Magazine (August 2010, July 2009, September 2008), and My Family Gave Up Television (page 92, Disney Family Fun August 2010). Her great ideas have been featured in Disney's Family Fun (Page 80, September 2008) and the Write for Charity book From the Heart (May 2010). Julee's work has also been published in Weight Watchers Magazine, All You Magazine (Jan. 2011, February 2011, June 2013), Scholastic Parent and Child Magazine (Oct. 2011), Red River Family Magazine (Jan. 2011), BonAppetit.com, and more. Notably, her article "My Toddler Stood on Elvis' Grave and Scaled Over Boulders to Get to a Dinosaur" made AP News, and "The Sly Way I Cured My Child's Lying Habit" was featured on PopSugar. When she's not writing, Julee enjoys spending time with her family and exploring new baking recipes.
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