It’s apple season! While this tender and moist Applesauce Spice Cake with Gooey Caramel Glaze uses fresh homemade applesauce, feel free to use store bought applesauce and make this delicious cake year round!

Name: Applesauce Spice Cake with Caramel Glaze
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 2 h 5 min
Yield: 10
Ingredients: For the cake:; 2 tablespoons unsalted butter; 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour (plus 2 tablespoons); 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda; ¼ teaspoon baking powder; ½ teaspoon kosher salt; ¼ teaspoon finely ground black pepper; 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon; 1 teaspoon ground ginger; ½ teaspoon ground cloves; 2 large eggs; ¾ cup granulated sugar; ¾ cup packed brown sugar; 2 cups applesauce; ¼ cup neutral cooking oil (avocado or vegetable oil); 1 teaspoon vanilla; --; For the caramel glaze:; 4 tablespoons butter, cut into pieces; ½ cup packed brown sugar; 1/3 cup heavy cream; ¼ teaspoon kosher salt; ¾ to 1 cup sifted confectioners’ sugar

I firmly believe that everyone should have cake and ice cream on their birthday. I believe this so much that it has almost become a life’s mission of mine to make sure everyone has a slice of cake on their special day.

In fact, at one job I had I was officially in charge of bringing in cake or cupcakes for the monthly staff birthday party.

I’ve also donated to several non-profits that bake birthday cakes for kids who otherwise wouldn’t have them. And several of my friends say that their birthday isn’t complete without cake from me!

So today, in honor of all the November birthdays, I am sharing a recipe for my current favorite cake. I have made this cake several times and it is absolutely delicious.

Moist and tender, filled with warm fall spices and wonderful homemade applesauce (don’t worry you can cheat and use store bought, if needed) and topped with a gooey caramel glaze- this cake has birthday memories written all over it!

Applesauce Spice Cake with Caramel Glaze

Yield: 10-12 servings

Prep Time: 25 minutes

Cook Time: 50 minutes

Additional Time: 50 minutes

Total Time: 2 hours 5 minutes

A tender, spiced cake with homemade applesauce and a gooey caramel glaze.

Ingredients

For the cake:
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour (plus 2 tablespoons)
1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
¼ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon kosher salt
¼ teaspoon finely ground black pepper
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
½ teaspoon ground cloves
2 large eggs
¾ cup granulated sugar
¾ cup packed brown sugar
2 cups applesauce
¼ cup neutral cooking oil (avocado or vegetable oil)
1 teaspoon vanilla
--
For the caramel glaze:
4 tablespoons butter, cut into pieces
½ cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup heavy cream
¼ teaspoon kosher salt
¾ to 1 cup sifted confectioners’ sugar

Instructions

To prepare cake, preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Using 2 tablespoons of butter, generously grease and lightly dust with 2 tablespoons of flour a 12-cup Bundt pan. Set aside.

In a large bowl, sift together the remaining 2 cups of flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, black pepper, cinnamon, ginger and cloves; set aside.

Using a stand mixer or in a large bowl with an electric mixer. beat together the eggs with both sugars until combined and light in color. Mix in the applesauce, oil and vanilla, mixing until well combined and smooth.

Using a spatula, gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, being careful not to over-mix. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 40-50 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.

Allow cake to cool for 10 minutes in the Bundt pan on a rack before inverting onto the wire rack to cool completely. Allow cake to cool completely before adding the glaze.

To prepare glaze, melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Once melted, stir in brown sugar, cream and salt.

Increase heat to medium-high and bring to a full boil. Stirring constantly boil for one minute then remove from heat.

Allow brown sugar mixture to cool slightly, then gradually whisk in the powdered sugar until you have a thick, but pourable glaze. If needed, add additional cream or powdered sugar to reach desired consistency.

Before pouring the glaze over the cake, place a piece of foil or wax paper under the cooling rack to catch any excess glaze. Immediately pour the glaze over the cake, moving slowly and evenly to cover as much surface area as possible.

Let the glaze set for 20-25 minutes before slicing and serving the cake.