Last Updated on November 14, 2019 by Chef Mireille
Applesauce Cake with Caramel Glaze
This traditional cake from colonial America is soft, light, super moist and low fat. Applesauce Cake with Caramel Glaze is the perfect addition to your holiday table.
Applesauce Cake is a very traditional cake, dating back to colonial times. In fact there is even a National Applesauce Cake day every year on June 6th. As I love history as much as the study of cuisine, I have always watched period TV and movies. My current obsession is Peaky Blinders. Two of my favorite TV shows growing up were Little House on the Prairie and reruns of the Waltons. I always remember that John Boy’s favorite cake was Applesauce Cake so it was finally time for me to create my own version of his favorite cake.
Heavily spiced, but very moist and light it’s the colonial version of a low fat cake with no milk and only 1 egg. You can even make it healthier if you like, by substituting half of the flour for whole wheat or other whole grain flours.
Here are some other cakes you might want to add to your Thanksgiving Table!
CAKE RECIPES
- Upside Down Kumquat Lavender Cake
- Italian Orange Cake
- Irish Potato Apple Cake
- Orange Cream Cheese Pound Cake
IN THE MAKING – HOW TO MAKE APPLESAUCE CAKE
Now I know why John Boy loved this cake so much. It is so soft, light and super moist.
Applesauce Cake with Caramel Glaze
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups all purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon ground clove
- 1 ½ cups unsweetened applesauce
- ½ cup unsalted butter softened
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
- 1 tablespoon dessicated coconut optional
- Caramel Glaze Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- ½ cup firmly packed brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons evaporated milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Spray a 9” cake pan with non stick spray.
- In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger and clove. Mix to combine.
- In a small bowl, whisk applesauce and ½ cup water until well blended.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar until soft and fluffy.
- Add egg and mix until thoroughly combined. Add vanilla and mix to combine.
- Alternately, add the flour mixture and applesauce in 3 batches, mixing well after each addition.
- Using a rubber spatula, fold in the walnuts.
- Transfer batter to prepared pan and bake for 1 ¼ hours, until a knife/toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- For the glaze, melt butter and sugar in a saucepan.
- Add milk and stir until thoroughly combined.
- While still warm, drizzle over cake.
- Sprinkle coconut on top.
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Oh that cake looks so moist and good..I had a tough list for my theme, this surely sounds so good and easy to make..:)
You should have let me know Would be glad to help
Loved this cake chef. I do make apple cake with making applesauce. But did not put spices. Let me try this next time. I am liking your blog…. awesome recipes.
Omg, what an awesome cake, wish i get a huge slice of this incredible cake, and that glaze tempts me a lot.
Great recipe. Love the moist and rich cake. Between I didn’t know little house on the prairie came as a show. Kiddo has the complete book set. Need to check if its on netflix of hulu. 🙂
It was on for about 10 years starting in the mid 70’s. I also read the whole series when I was a child. I’m not sure if it’s on Netflix but I know it’s on Amazon Video but not one of the free series.
Wow! that is such a spice rich and moist cake.
loved everything that went into this, esp the glaze , and the cake is so moist… Fall and apple recipes are a match made in heaven. its just 1 egg and am sure I can make an egg substitute..bookmarked to try this, Mir 🙂
sigh ! I already miss NYC, the Fall pix my sister sent me are gorgeous 🙂
yes fall really is the most beautiful time of year around here
Applesauce adds a nice flavour and texture to the cakes and with caramel on top, this is super tempting.
yes it is a very soft and moist cake
Oh me cake looks delicious Mir! That glaze, oh my awesome ?! I m defjnitey trying this cake !
We have many recipes where apple sauce has been used to make them Eggless , but this one sounds very flavourful , one egg is easy to substitute . The caramel takes the cake to a different level .
yes apple and caramel compliment each other so well
Oh wow! That looks super tempting! Love the caramel glaze on the cake and the flavor of the apple with the caramel should be amazing.
apple and caramel is definitely an awesome combination.
Wow, such a delicious and moist cake. Will love to try it.
I love all of these spices and when combined with apples they scream Fall. Loved reading the history. Would love to try it
It’s a really delicious cake – one I plan on making repeatedly