Apple Spice Cake with Brown Sugar Frosting

Name: Apple Spice Cake with Brown Sugar Frosting
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 50 min
Ingredients: 3 cups all-purpose flour; 2 teaspoons baking powder; 3/4 teaspoon baking soda; ½ teaspoon salt; 2 teaspoons pumpkin spice; 1 cup vegetable oil; 1 cup white granulated sugar; ½ cup light brown sugar; 1 cup unsweetened applesauce; 4 eggs, (room temperature); 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 3 Tablespoons fresh squeezed orange juice ((usually one orange will work)); 1 teaspoon orange zest; 3 cups peeled & diced green apples (about a 1/2-inch thick dice) ((about 2–3 large apples)); ½ cup unsalted butter, (softened to room temperature); 1 cup light brown sugar, (lightly packed); 4 cups powdered sugar; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; ¼ cup heavy cream; ¼ cup chopped walnuts, toasted ((optional)); ¼ cup toffee bits (such as Heath bits) ((optional))

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A homemade apple cake with the most luscious frosting! You’ll love every sweet bite of this Apple Spice Cake with Brown Sugar Frosting. The perfect fall dessert!

A PERFECT FALL CAKE

If you are in the fall baking mood, then I have the perfect cake for you! This Apple Spice Cake with Brown Sugar Frosting recipe is a made-from-scratch favorite that will not only make your house smell amazing as it bakes, but it tastes absolutely fabulous too! The frosting is really what sets it off! With just a few simple steps – making both the cake and frosting from scratch – this delicious dessert will bring all the lovely fall vibes. Soft, moist applesauce-spice cake topped with a sweet, creamy brown sugar frosting. Serve up this flavorful cake and watch it quickly disappear!

A slice of Apple Slice Cake with homemade frosting on a plate.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Can I grate the apples instead?

I don’t recommend grating them. Instead, cut your apples into ¼-inch – ½-inch cubes for the best size bits in your cake. Also, make sure they’re cut into neat, smaller pieces for an easier time cutting the cake.

What kind of apples should I use?

I suggest using a baking type apple. Honey crisp or Granny Smith are the most commonly used in band goods.

Why did my spice cake come out dry?

A dry cake is often the result of inaccurate flour measurement (usually too much). If you don’t have a scale, the best way to measure flour is to use the scoop and level method. Stir the flour to loosen it up a bit. Then dip the measuring cup into the flour and scoop it up (don’t pack it down) then take the flat part of a butter knife and level it off (scraping off any excess flour). Using the perfect balance of ingredients is key to achieving a moist and delicious cake.

Can I make this apple cake ahead of time?

Yes but don’t refrigerate it. Refrigerating cake can often dry it out. You can freeze it though. Prepare the cake in a cake pan that has a lid then pop it into the freezer for up to 3 months. Allow to come to room temperate before serving.

Are pumpkin pie spice and apple pie spice really interchangeable?

Yes, they are. They pretty much have the same basic ingredients: cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and cloves. Sometimes pumpkin pie spice will have more cloves in it. And some apple pie spices have no cloves in them or just a small amount. But they all pretty much have the same ingredients with there sometimes being a tad more of one ingredient than another.

How to store Apple Cake with homemade frosting?

Leftover cake can be wrapped in plastic and stored at room temperature for up to 5-7 days. This cake can be frozen for up to 3 months.

A slice of homemade Apple Spice Cake with homemade brown sugar frosting and nuts on top.

INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR THE FULL RECIPE)

all-purpose flour – sifting the flour is not required but you can certainly do it if you prefer.
baking powder and baking soda – just make sure these are fresh, most baked goods don’t turn out properly (soft and light) because the leavening agents have gone off.
pumpkin spice or apple pie spice – I talk about this more above in the FAQ (frequently asked question) section.
white granulated sugar and light brown sugar
unsweetened applesauce – this is going to add more apple flavor as well as moisture.
eggs – allow these to come to room temperature if time allows. This actually helps the cake to be less dense.
orange juice and orange zest – I know this might sound a little weird to add to an apple cake but it really adds a wonderful dimension in flavor! It adds a layer of flavor that really compliments the apple.
apples – green apples work best for baking (like Granny Smith). They just hold up better and don’t turn into mush like a red apple would.
powdered sugar – also called confectioners sugar.
heavy cream – you can use milk but you will use less as it is not as thick as heavy cream. Add a little at a time until you get your desired thickness.
toasted walnuts and Heath bits – you can find bags of heath toffee bits in the baking aisle of your grocery store near the chocolate chips.

All purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, eggs, apples, butter, apple sauce, pumpkin spice, vegetable oil, sugar, brown sugar, vanilla extract, orange juice, powdered sugar, heavy cream, chopped walnuts, toffee bits, and orange zest.

HOW TO MAKE APPLE SPICE CAKE WITH BROWN SUGAR FROSTING

Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease and line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper (greasing the pan first helps the parchment paper stick and stay in place when you go to pour the batter in). In a large bowl whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and pumpkin spice. In a separate large bowl combine vegetable oil, granulated sugar, brown sugar, unsweetened applesauce, eggs, orange juice, orange zest, and vanilla extract.

collage of two photos: a mixing bowl with flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and pumpkin spice; eggs, vanilla extract, applesauce and orange juice added to a separate bowl.

Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients (a little at a time) and stirring until just combined don’t overmix or the cake won’t come out tender). Gently stir in the chopped apples into the batter and then pour the mixture into the prepared baking pan.

collage of two photos: dry ingredients added to wet ingredients in a bowl; apple spice cake batter spread into prepared baking dish.

Bake for 30-35 minutes, making sure the top of the cake doesn’t get too dark. If you notice it is getting too dark, cover the pan with aluminum foil after about 20 minutes. Remove pan from the oven and place it on a wire rack to cool while you make the frosting. Allow the cake to cool completely before frosting. To the bowl of a stand mixer (or in a bowl with an electric hand mixer) beat the butter until light and fluffy (about three minutes). Add the brown sugar and continue beating until well mixed. Next, add in the powdered sugar, vanilla extract, a pinch of salt and mix until well combined. Add heavy cream (a Tablespoon at a time) to reach desired consistency.