This Applesauce Cake Recipe is perfectly spiced and flavorful, topped with an easy cream cheese frosting. Bake this cake with simple ingredients, all in one bowl!
author’s note
One Bowl, Big Flavor, Zero Fuss!
I’ve always loved baking with applesauce. It keeps baked goods so moist, adds natural sweetness, and brings that cozy flavor I grew up with.
My mom used it all the time, and now it’s one of my favorite baking staples. This Applesauce Cake is the best example of why. It’s tender, full of warm spice, and so simple to make in just one bowl.
The cream cheese frosting makes it extra special, but it’s just as delicious plain or with a light dusting of powdered sugar.
Ingredients
| Ingredient | Swaps or Tips |
|---|---|
| Unsweetened Applesauce | Use homemade or store-bought, but avoid sweetened so you control the sugar. |
| Coconut Oil | Melt and cool before adding. Swap with canola or vegetable oil if preferred. |
| Brown Sugar | You can use coconut sugar for a less refined option. |
| Oat Flour | Make your own by blending oats or buy it pre-ground. Regular all-purpose flour works if you don’t need it gluten-free. |
| Spices | Cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice give the cake its flavor. Adjust amounts or add cloves/ginger for extra spice. |
| Pecans | Optional but add crunch. Swap for walnuts or leave out entirely. |
Quick Tip
To make this cake gluten-free: Check ingredient labels for any gluten processing. Even small amounts of gluten can be harmful to those with celiac disease.
How To Make This Applesauce Cake Recipe
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In one bowl, whisk together applesauce, melted coconut oil, egg, brown sugar, and vanilla until smooth.
- Add Dry Ingredients: Sprinkle baking soda, baking powder, salt, spices, and oat flour right on top. Stir until just combined. Fold in pecans.
- Bake: Transfer to a lined 8×8-inch pan and bake until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool & Frost: Let cake cool completely, then spread on cream cheese frosting. Sprinkle extra pecans if you like.
Featured Comment
“I make this recipe all the time, exactly as printed and it always comes out perfect. This is my go-to snack cake and everyone enjoys it! Thank you for sharing this recipe.”
– Laura
Storage
Store this applesauce cake recipe at room temp, covered with plastic wrap. It’s best within 1-2 days.
For longer storage, freeze un-frosted pieces for up to 3 months; thaw at room temperature and then frost.
More Apple Recipes:
Desserts
Applesauce Bread
Breakfast
Healthy Apple Muffins
Desserts
Caramel Apple Bar
Desserts
Apple Crumble
Applesauce Cake Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1/4 cup coconut oil melted and cooled, see note 1
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar lightly packed
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon allspice
- 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 cup oat flour blend up old-fashioned oats
- 1/4 cup chopped pecans optional
- 1/3 cup raisins optional
- 2 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese softened to room temperature
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1-1/2 cups powdered sugar
- Chopped pecans optional, for topping
Instructions
- Set out cream cheese to warm to room temperature. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper or the cake will not come out easily. Melt coconut oil and let cool to room temperature (see note 1).
- In a large bowl, stir together applesauce, melted and cooled coconut oil, egg, vanilla extract, and brown sugar until smooth.
- Add baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, allspice, and nutmeg to the bowl, then add oat flour (see note 2). If using, add chopped pecans and raisins. Mix until combined and smooth.
- Pour batter into the lined 8×8 pan. Bake for 28–33 minutes or until a fork inserted comes out clean. Let the cake cool completely before frosting.
- In a large bowl, beat softened cream cheese and vanilla extract with a hand mixer until smooth. Add salt. If you’d like a tangier or soft frosting, only add 1-1/4 cups powdered sugar. For a sweeter, thicker frosting, add closer to 1-3/4 cups. Gradually add desired amount of powdered sugar, beating between additions, until the frosting is smooth and creamy and to your desired consistency. Add a bit of milk if too thick.
- Frost the cooled cake evenly. If desired, top with chopped pecans.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Applesauce Cake Recipe
It often replaces butter or oil. In this cake, it also stands in for some of the sugar, adding natural sweetness.
Yes, just use certified gluten-free oats for the oat flour. Double-check all ingredient labels to avoid cross-contamination.
Definitely! This cake is flavorful enough on its own. A light dusting of powdered sugar works great too.
Love this recipe. Works every time.
Yay! So thrilled to hear how much you love this! Thanks Lynne! 🙂
Sooo moist and delicious! The spice combination, the nuts (I toasted them first), oat flour etc. Family can’t get enough of this cake. I sometimes omit the icing to cut back on sugar. It’s just as delicious, you don’t miss the icing because the cake is so delicious. BAKE THIS CAKE! You won’t be disappointed.
I am thrilled to hear this! Thank you so much Susan! 🙂
I made this cake, and it is absolutely delicious.
I am so happy to hear you loved this Applesauce Cake! Thanks Patricia! 🙂
As I scrolled through the posts, I noticed that someone else asked this same question but you didn’t answer it: What can be subbed for the oat flour? I’m sensitive and get stomach issues, even with GF oats so I don’t use/eat this at all. THINKING OF USING MY GF FLOUR BLEND INSTEAD? Perhaps 3/4 c gf flour blend and 1/4 c almond meal (not the blanched flour)….I’m trying the blend out this afternoon, will post with results.
I’m sorry, I haven’t tested this cake with anything other than oat flour so I can’t say for sure what will or won’t work!
I make this recipe all the time, exactly as printed and it always comes out perfect. This is my go-to snack cake and everyone enjoys it! Thank you for sharing this recipe.
Yay, I love hearing that! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a comment and review 🙂
I’m allergic to egg. What can be a substitute?
I’m sorry Steph I’m not super familiar with egg substitutes and baking; so I don’t have a recommendation I know would work here. Hopefully someone else can chime in!
I made this today for my daughter and son-in-laws anniversary. It was a huge hit! Everybody loved it, even my husband who doesn’t like cinnamon or applesauce. It was perfectly moist without being mushy like so many gf cakes are. The only change I made was in the frosting. 6 oz. of cream cheese and only 1 C. of powdered sugar. You made our day with this recipe – thanks so much!!
Yay! So happy to hear that, thank you so much for taking the time to leave a comment 🙂
I haven’t tried this recipe as many others on this comment thread have not. When I look at comments I want to know what people thought of the actual recipe after they cooked it not their comment saying why does this look good because that doesn’t help me in deciding what recipe to choose. I wish people would not comment and say this looks good if they don’t know if it actually IS good.
Made this for the family tonight (National Applesauce Cake Day) and everyone LOVED it!! This is definitely a keeper!! I used Kite Hill dairy-free cream cheese as I am intolerant to dairy. Thanks for the next staple of our household!!
Yay! So thrilled this was a hit, thank you!!
Thank you so much for this recipe I have made it many times and it always a winner! Especially since I don’t feel guilty eating it with healthy fat and lower sugar. It is delicious.
Yay! So glad to hear that! Thanks for the comment 🙂