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This simple Amish apple cake delivers pure comfort with each bite, especially when fall arrives and applesauce fills every fridge. You'll love how this no-fuss cake comes together quickly and vanishes fast at gatherings or as an after-dinner treat with a steaming mug of tea.
I baked this for my neighbor’s October barn gathering and everyone grabbed a piece before they even touched the cider. Now it shows up whenever applesauce lands on my shopping list.
Grab Your Ingredients
- Applesauce: Adds juiciness and light fruit flavor - go for unsweetened to better manage the sweetness level
- Sugar: Creates foundation and sweetness - try light brown sugar if you want richer notes
- Vegetable oil: Makes for a tender bite and extends freshness - canola works great too
- Eggs: Hold everything together and boost richness - room temperature large eggs blend best
- All-purpose flour: Provides the foundation - pick unbleached for softer results
- Baking soda: Creates fluffiness - make sure it's fresh for proper rising
- Ground cinnamon: Adds cozy warmth - Saigon cinnamon offers extra kick
- Salt: Enhances sweetness and spices - fine sea salt spreads evenly
- Vanilla extract: Brings all tastes together - real vanilla gives the nicest smell
How to Make It
- Preheat the Oven and Prepare Pan
- Turn your oven to three hundred fifty degrees Fahrenheit. Make sure the rack sits in the middle. Coat a nine by thirteen inch baking dish with oil or cooking spray. This helps your cake come out clean when done.
- Mix Wet Ingredients
- Get a big mixing bowl and stir together the applesauce, sugar and vegetable oil. Keep mixing until everything looks shiny and well-combined.
- Add Eggs
- Drop in eggs one at a time. Mix each one completely before adding another. This keeps your batter airy and stops it from breaking apart.
- Combine Dry Ingredients
- In another bowl, stir together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. This spreads everything evenly and gets rid of lumps.
- Combine Wet and Dry
- Put the dry stuff into the wet mix in a few batches. Stir gently just until mixed. Don't stir too much or your cake might turn out heavy.
- Add Vanilla
- Pour in the vanilla and stir until it's mixed through. Your batter should smell amazing and look smooth now.
- Fill the Pan
- Scoop all your batter into the greased dish. Use a spatula to make the top flat. This helps it bake the same all over.
- Bake
- Put the pan in your hot oven. Let it bake thirty to thirty five minutes. Start checking at thirty by poking a toothpick in the middle. When no wet batter sticks, it's done.
- Cool and Serve
- Take the cake out and let it cool fully in the pan before cutting. This makes sure each piece stays together when you serve it.
What I love most about this cake is how cinnamon and apple smells fill up the kitchen. When I make it with my daughter, she always tries to taste the batter and wants to clean the spoon. Somehow family memories stick to this cake just like its soft crumbs do.
Flavor Boosters
Let the cake cool completely before you put it away so it doesn't get soggy. Store leftover pieces in a sealed container and they'll stay good at room temperature for three days. For longer keeping, stick it in the fridge for up to a week. Just bring slices to room temp before eating for the best taste.
Serving Suggestions
This cake tastes great by itself, but you can dress it up with some whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. For breakfast, I sometimes warm it slightly with butter and coffee. At parties, drizzling caramel sauce on top makes it look fancy.
Creative Twists
If you only have sweetened applesauce, just cut back the sugar by a quarter cup. You can swap in brown sugar for deeper flavor notes. For a dairy-free option, just double check your applesauce and sugar don't contain animal products.
This applesauce cake brings people together. Whether you bake it for a community dinner or quiet evening at home, it'll soon become a regular on your dessert menu.
Common Questions About This Recipe
- → What type of applesauce works best?
Go for unsweetened applesauce if you want to manage sweetness and taste better, though sweetened works fine if you like your cake on the sweeter side.
- → Can I add nuts or raisins?
Definitely, mix in some chopped nuts or raisins into your batter to get extra crunch and flavor.
- → How do I know when the cake is done?
Stick a toothpick in the middle. When it comes out clean or just has a few damp crumbs, your cake's good to go.
- → Can I use whole wheat flour?
Sure thing, swap out up to half the white flour with whole wheat to get some extra fiber and a nice earthy taste.
- → How should I store leftover cake?
Put it in a sealed container at room temp for about 3 days, or stick it in the fridge for up to a week.
- → Can I make this cake ahead?
You bet. This cake doesn't dry out for days, so it's a great option when you need to bake something in advance.