A delightful applesauce cake is a remarkable dessert that families will love. An old-fashioned applesauce cake recipe makes a moist, flavorful cake with juicy raisins and crunchy walnuts. The cinnamon and cloves add comforting spice flavors. Enjoy a square served warm from the oven or chilled – perfect for National Applesauce Cake Day or a brisk fall day!
Let’s explore some of the origins and variations of this classic cake. I found an easy recipe that uses basic ingredients like all-purpose flour, baking powder and soda, white sugar, and your mother’s homemade or store-bought applesauce. Add chopped walnuts or baked apple slices on top for more apple taste. Other tasty extras are cream cheese frosting or cinnamon-brown sugar crumble.
This homemade, cozy cake is a crowd-pleasing tradition. Use wholesome ingredients like unsalted butter and whole wheat flour for a Polish twist. For richness, goat’s milk or yogurt can replace some applesauce. Bake this family recipe today and share the old-fashioned goodness of applesauce cake.
Check out Joanna’s classic recipe at AllRecipes.com to bake the perfect cake. Her detailed instructions for cinnamon-spiced cake with walnuts and raisins provide everything you need to make this special dessert for your family. Click here to visit Joanna’s Applesauce Cake Recipe on AllRecipes.com and explore all her tips for mixing, baking, storing, and customizing this tried-and-true cake. With Joanna’s guidance, you can continue the tradition of homemade applesauce cakes and enjoy a slice of autumn.
A Little Food History About Applesauce Cake
Food historians speculate that the applesauce cake recipe frequently appeared in cookbooks from the first half of the 20th century. Some say this recipe developed during World War I when sugar, butter, and eggs were scarce. The cake’s popularity peaked during the World War II era. However, once food rationing ended, it faded from cookbooks. Then, the diet craze of the 1970s led to the cake’s reappearance.
Medieval European cooks first made apple sauces by cooking apples into stewed apples and apple puddings. These were considered savory apple sauces with flavors ranging from tart to sweet, and they were added to other foods.
Cake Variations
Applesauce cakes can vary in texture – some are dense and fudgy, while others are lighter and more cake-like. They are often baked as Bundt cakes and finished with glazes, powdered sugar, or cream cheese frosting.
As a closing reminder, substitute applesauce for butter or oil in any cake recipe for a healthier alternative. Some cooks also replace one egg with 1/2 cup applesauce in recipes for those with egg allergies. Applesauce is a versatile ingredient perfect for autumn baking or celebrating National Applesauce Cake Day on June 6th. Please comment below if you try this applesauce cake recipe or have a variation to share!
Ready to elevate your baking skills with a classic, heartwarming dessert? Our detailed baked apples recipe and baking tips article provide a step-by-step guide to transforming your kitchen into an autumnal paradise!
Editorial Update: We strive to keep our content accurate and up-to-date. As part of our ongoing efforts, this article was moved from Recipe to FOODS & RECIPES on 09/10/2023.
This article was first published on June 4, 2015, and updated on November 16, 2023. We’ve fixed a broken link and improved the content.
