Applesauce Cake with a Soft Crumb

For Applesauce Cake with a Soft Crumb, the counter starts with unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and dark brown sugar. Portion it for 12 slices.

Count on 20 minutes of prep, 30 minutes of cooking, about 50 minutes from the first measurement to the plate.

Ingredients Method

What goes in the bowl

For the moist cake

• ¾ cup unsalted butter
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup dark brown sugar
• 1 ½ cups unsweetened applesauce
• 2 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground ginger
• ¼ teaspoon ground cloves

For the maple cream cheese frosting

• 8 oz brick-style cream cheese full fat, softened
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter softened
• 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
• 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup or more to taste (be careful, it will make it loose!)
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon

How the cooking goes

Brown the butter

1. In a small saucepan over a gentle flame melt the butter. Small cubed butter will move the process along faster.
2. Then slowly continue cooking it, stirring now and then until the solids have browned, the melted butter turns a light amber color, and the whole thing smells like toasted buttered hazelnuts.
3. Take it off the heat and pour into a heat-proof bowl to stop the cooking. Allow to cool while you measure and prepare the batter. When the butter is browned, it weighs 140g.

Make and bake the cake

1. Heat the oven to 350°F conventional (no fan). Spray with nonstick spray or butter a 9 x9 inch pan or baking dish and line with baking paper.
2. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt and ground spices. Keep it to one side.
3. In a separate large bowl, whisk together browned butter, still warm, sugars, eggs, vanilla and applesauce. Whisk vigorously until the texture looks smooth.
4. Beat the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients just until the mix looks even. Careful not to over mix or it could cause tunneling in the cake.
5. Tip into the prepared pan and spread it into the corners and flatten with an offset spatula or the back of a spoon.
6. Oven-bake in the preheated oven for 28-35 minutes or until a cake tester, cake tester, or wooden skewer comes out clean. The cake should spring back when lightly pressed.
7. Cool in the pan before frosting on a wire rack.

Make the maple cream cheese frosting

1. In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese and butter together until the texture looks smooth. Add the powdered sugar and beat until the texture looks smooth.
2. Add maple syrup, vanilla, and cinnamon and beat well.
3. Lay on cooled cake. Slice and serve!

After it comes off the heat

Cool the pot before it goes into the refrigerator. It reheats gently on the stove the next day.

If you want another plate from Apples, open Apple Compote for the Home Table and Applesauce – 2 ingredients! for Pouring.