So my mom called me last week asking for “that apple cake you made last Thanksgiving,” and I had to break it to her—I never made an apple cake last Thanksgiving. Turns out she was thinking of my aunt Linda. But the conversation got me craving apple spice cake, and honestly? I’m glad she had that weird memory mix-up because now I’ve perfected this recipe and it’s honestly better than whatever Linda made. Sorry, Linda.
This apple spice cake is the real deal. Not one of those dry, boring cakes that taste like sadness and regret. Nope. This one’s moist, packed with actual chunks of APPLE, and has so many warm spices that your kitchen will smell like fall threw up in the best way possible.
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Why This Homemade Apple Spice Cake is Different
Look, I’ve tried probably ten different apple spice cake recipes from Pinterest. Some were okay. Most were disasters. One time I made one that was so dense I considered using it as a doorstop. True story.
But this easy apple spice cake? It works. Every. Single. Time.
The secret—oh wait, I should mention this first—you need to grate the apples. Not dice them into big chunks like some recipes say. Grate them. I learned this the hard way after my first attempt had these huge apple pieces that made the cake fall apart when you tried to slice it. Mess. Complete mess.
What Makes the Best Apple Spice Cake Actually Good
Here’s the thing about apple spice cake. It needs THREE things to be perfect:
- Enough spice (most recipes are stingy with the cinnamon)
- Moisture (nobody wants dry cake)
- Actual apple flavor (not just apple-scented cardboard)
This recipe has all three. And I’m not just saying that because I’m proud of it (though I am). My neighbor tasted it and literally asked if I bought it from a bakery. Best compliment ever.
Ingredients for Moist Apple Spice Cake
Before you start, a quick shopping note: get good apples. I use Honeycrisp or Granny Smith. Don’t use Red Delicious unless you hate yourself. They turn to mush and have zero flavor. Trust me on this.
For the Cake:
- 2½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon (or 3 if you’re like me and obsessed)
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 cup vegetable oil (canola works too)
- 1½ cups packed brown sugar
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 cup unsweetened applesauce (the secret ingredient!)
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups grated apples (about 2-3 medium apples)
For the Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened (DO NOT use low-fat, it’s gross)
- ½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Actually, you know what? Sometimes I skip the frosting and just dust it with powdered sugar. Both ways are good. Depends on my mood.
How to Make This Fall Apple Spice Cake Recipe
Step 1: Prep Everything
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13 inch pan. I use butter because I’m fancy like that. Or lazy. Probably lazy since I just grab the butter wrapper and rub it around the pan.
Get your apples ready. Peel them (or don’t—I’ve done it both ways and honestly can’t tell the difference), then grate them using the large holes of a box grater. Set them aside. They’ll turn a little brown. That’s normal. Don’t freak out like I did the first time.
Step 2: Mix the Dry Ingredients
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and all those beautiful spices. The smell at this point is INSANE. Like autumn decided to move into your kitchen.
Set this aside. We’ll need it in a minute.
Step 3: The Wet Ingredients
In a large bowl (or your stand mixer if you’re not doing dishes by hand like a peasant), mix together the oil and both sugars. Beat them for about 2 minutes until it looks kinda fluffy and lighter in color.
Add the eggs one at a time. I learned this matters because one time I just dumped all three in at once and the batter got weird. So yeah. One at a time.
Mix in the applesauce and vanilla. This is where the magic happens—the applesauce makes this apple spice cake with applesauce incredibly moist. Don’t skip it. Seriously.
Step 4: Combine Everything
Add your dry ingredients to the wet ingredients in three parts. Mix gently between each addition. Don’t overmix or you’ll end up with tough cake. Mix until you just barely see flour streaks, then stop.
Fold in those grated apples. Use a spatula and be gentle. The batter will be thick. That’s good. That’s what we want.
Step 5: Bake This Apple Spice Layer Cake
Pour the batter into your prepared pan. Smooth the top. Now here’s where I always get impatient—you gotta bake this for 35-45 minutes. Set a timer. I once forgot and left it in for an hour because I was watching Netflix. Don’t be me.
It’s done when a toothpick comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs. The top will be golden brown and smell absolutely incredible.
Let it cool completely before frosting. I know. I know it’s hard to wait. But if you frost a warm cake, the frosting melts and slides off and you’ll be sad.
Step 6: Make the Cream Cheese Frosting (Optional but Recommended)
Beat the softened cream cheese and butter together until smooth. This takes about 2-3 minutes. Add the powdered sugar one cup at a time, mixing between additions. Stir in the vanilla and cinnamon.
Spread this glorious frosting all over your cooled cake. Lick the spoon. It’s the baker’s tax.
Tips for the Best Spiced Apple Cake
Use room temperature ingredients. Cold eggs make the batter weird. Ask me how I know.
Don’t skip the applesauce. I tried substituting more oil once and it wasn’t the same. The applesauce adds moisture and a subtle apple flavor that’s just… chef’s kiss.
Storage: Cover it tightly. It stays good in the fridge for 4-5 days. Actually, it gets even better on day 2. Something about the flavors melding together or whatever.
Serving suggestions: This is amazing with vanilla ice cream. Or coffee. Or just standing at the counter at midnight eating it with a fork directly from the pan. No judgment here.
Why Everyone Loves This Apple Spice Cake for Thanksgiving
Last year I brought this to Thanksgiving dinner thinking people would just nibble on it after all the pie. Wrong. It was gone in like twenty minutes. My uncle Jim asked for the recipe. Uncle Jim who only eats meat and potatoes. That’s when I knew this recipe was special.
It’s not too sweet, the spices are perfectly balanced, and it’s just… cozy. That’s the best word for it. It tastes like a hug from fall itself.
Plus it’s way easier than making a layer cake from scratch but looks just as impressive. Win-win.
The Honest Truth About This Cozy Apple Spice Cake
Is it the fanciest cake ever? No. Will it win any beauty contests? Probably not. But is it the best apple spice cake you’ll ever make? Yeah. I think so.
My kid, who normally only eats chicken nuggets and refuses anything with “spices,” asked for this in his lunchbox. That’s the ultimate test right there.
So make it. Seriously. And let me know how it turns out because I love hearing about other people’s baking adventures. Did you burn it? Did your dog steal a piece off the counter while it was cooling? (Happened to me with a different cake. RIP that cake.) Tell me everything!
Happy baking, and may your apples grate easily and your frosting spread smoothly! 🍎🍰
