Description
This creamy, moist Applesauce Cake Moist Spice Loaf is easy to make and family-friendly. Featuring warm spices, applesauce, and optional add-ins.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ¾ cups (210g) All-purpose flour
- 1 tsp Baking soda
- ½ tsp Baking powder
- 1 ½ tsp Cinnamon
- ½ tsp Nutmeg
- ¼ tsp Ground cloves
- ¼ tsp Ground ginger
- ½ tsp Salt
- 1 ½ cups (360g) Unsweetened applesauce
- 2 large Eggs
- ½ cup (120ml) Oil (vegetable or canola)
- ½ cup (100g) packed Brown sugar
- ½ cup (100g) Granulated sugar
- 1 tsp Vanilla extract
- ½ cup (60g) Raisins or chopped walnuts/pecans, optional add-in
- ½ cup (60g) Shredded carrots or zucchini, optional add-in
Instructions
- Preheat & Prep: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×5 inch loaf pan, or line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
- Whisk Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, ginger, and salt until they are well combined.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the applesauce, eggs, oil, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth and well-combined.
- Combine: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Stir with a spatula until ‘just’ combined. Do not overmix; a few lumps are perfectly okay. This crucial step helps keep your applesauce cake moist and tender.
- Add-ins: Gently fold in any optional raisins, nuts, or shredded veggies if you’re using them.
- Bake: Pour the batter evenly into your prepared loaf pan. Bake for 55-65 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. The top should be a beautiful golden brown and spring back when lightly touched.
- Cool & Serve: Let the loaf cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes before carefully transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely. Once cooled, slice and enjoy your homemade moist spice loaf!
Notes
Tips & Adjustments:
- Don’t overmix: Stir ‘just’ until combined for a truly moist spice loaf. Overmixing develops gluten, leading to a tougher texture.
- Room temperature ingredients: Ensure all cold ingredients (eggs, applesauce) are at room temperature. This allows for better emulsion, a smoother batter, and a more even bake.
- Adjust spice levels: Feel free to add more cinnamon or a pinch of allspice for extra warmth. A teaspoon of fresh lemon zest can brighten the flavors.
Allergy or Dietary Notes:
- Gluten-Free: Substitute all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend (ensure it contains xanthan gum) for a delicious gluten-free version.
- Nut Allergies: Simply omit the nuts or use sunflower seeds as a swap for a nut-free treat.
Storage & Reheating:
- Fridge: Store in an airtight container for up to 5-7 days.
- Freezer: Wrap cooled slices or the whole loaf tightly in plastic wrap, then foil. Freeze for up to 2-3 months.
- Reheating: Thaw frozen loaf at room temperature. Warm slices gently in the microwave (15-30 seconds) or oven (300°F/150°C for 5-10 minutes).
Troubleshooting:
- Too dry? This is likely from overbaking or overmixing. Next time, check for doneness earlier and mix the batter less.
- Soggy center? Your loaf could be underbaked. Ensure that skewer comes out completely clean before removing it from the oven.
Note: Nutritional information is an estimate based on standard ingredient values as it was not provided in the original article.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 300 kcal
- Sugar: 35g
- Sodium: 250mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 60mg
Keywords: Applesauce Cake