Exploding with flavors, there’s no better way to treat yourself than with this old-fashioned Apple Spice Cake! Throw on some caramel frosting for an even tastier treat!
Table of contents
Apple Spice Cake with Caramel Frosting
I have made this recipe for Apple Spice Cake with Caramel Frosting for over twenty-five years! It’s always a hit wherever I serve it.
Usually, I serve it as one of our cakes for the 4th of July – and it’s especially a hit in the fall with its spices and apples!
This cake reminds me of a very old-fashioned cake – maybe something similar to what our great-grandmas may have made.
This cake is full of fruit and nuts with a chocolate-spice tone that’s not overly sweet. The caramel glaze pairs well with the cake, giving it a little sweetness.
Overall, there’s really no better (or easier to make) sweet treat than this Apple Spice Cake. It’s such a great snack, and I hope you’ll give it a try!
Apple Spice Cake: Ingredients & Equipment
For this Apple Spice Cake with Caramel Frosting recipe, you will need …
Ingredients
For the cake
- all-purpose flour – there are many different kinds of flour, each suited for various dishes, but all-purpose is best for most baked goods like this Apple Spice Cake.
- baking powder and baking soda – these help your baked goods rise, especially if you’re not using yeast.
- butter, sugar, eggs, and buttermilk – more common baking ingredients. If you’ve made a cake before, you know the drill with these guys! With the eggs and buttermilk, ensure they’re room temperature, as they’ll give your apple spice cake a nice squishy texture in the end.
- applesauce – this provides the apple flavor in your spice cake, of course!
- salt – as I always say…salt enhances the flavors of the other ingredients in any sweet baked treat, and you’d taste the difference without it.
- cinnamon, cloves, allspice, ground ginger, nutmeg, cocoa – your spices!
- Raisins: An add-in for your cake!
- toasted pecans – coarsely chopped. Another add-in for your cake! (Note: To toast pecans, bake in a 300°F oven for about 15 minutes.)
For the caramel frosting
- brown sugar, powdered sugar – sifting your powdered sugar before mixing helps it blend so much easier!
- vanilla extract – always adds a dash of flavor to any glaze.
- butter, milk – these give your glaze that gooey (but amazing) consistency you need!
Equipment
- 10-cup Bundt pan – greased and floured. For baking your cake!
- bowls – a large one for your “wet” ingredients and a medium-sized one for your “dry” ingredients.
- spatula – for prepping your batter.
- saucepan – you’ll use this for cooking up your glaze!
Spice Cake with Apples: FAQs
Between 12 and 18, depending on how you cut the cake!
Only about an hour and a half! You’ll want 30 minutes to prep the ingredients and an hour to cook them.
In the fridge, you can keep the leftover cake in an airtight container for about 3-5 days. Although, you should ideally finish it as soon as possible if you want to taste the best quality cake!
If you want to freeze the individual slices, you should start by wrapping each piece in parchment paper or cling wrap, then placing it into a freezer-safe baggy. To thaw the cake slices, bring them to room temperature if they are already frosted. You can set the cake in the microwave for 30 seconds or so if it’s not frosted.
Also! You can freeze the unfrosted cake a day before serving and then make and add the frosting when ready to serve. I’ve done this before!
Other recipes you may enjoy
4th of July Apple Spice Cake with Caramel Glaze
Equipment
Ingredients
For the cake
- ½ cup butter softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup applesauce
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- ½ teaspoon allspice
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- ½ cup cocoa powder
- ½ cup buttermilk
- 1 cup raisins
- 1 cup toasted pecans coarsely chopped **(see note below)
For the Caramel Glaze
- 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
- 4 tablespoons butter
- ½ cup milk
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
For the cake:
- Preheat the oven to 325°F. Grease and flour a 10-cup Bundt pan and set aside.
- In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add the applesauce and combine.
- On a large piece of waxed paper or in a medium-sized bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, spices and cocoa.
- Using a rubber spatula, alternately fold half of the dry ingredients, all of the buttermilk, and then the remaining flour mixture into the applesauce mixture. Stir in the raisins and pecans.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and level with the spatula. Bake on the center oven rack for 50-60 minutes or until a skewer inserted near the center of the cake tests clean.
- Cool on a rack for about 10 minutes – then remove from the pan and allow to cool completely on the rack. Top with Caramel Glaze (recipe below).
For the Caramel Frosting:
- In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, bring the brown sugar and butter to a boil over medium-high heat. Remove from the heat and add the milk (be careful, it may splatter!) Return the pan to the heat and bring it back to a boil. Add the powdered sugar and constantly stir until it is fully incorporated. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla.
- Drizzle the frosting over the cooled cake.
Notes
- To toast pecans: Bake in a 300°F oven for about 15 minutes.
Nutrition
Please note that the nutritional information listed on this page is an estimation based on the products I used. Ingredients and nutritional information can vary significantly between brands. Always be sure to read labels. Please verify that a recipe fits your needs before using it. Nutrition info may contain errors, so please verify it independently. Likewise, recipes may contain errors, so please use your common sense when following them.
Originally published on June 12, 2013. Updated on August 12, 2022.
Pinned! Would love to try the glaze especially 🙂 Born on the 4th of July… mm, explains a lot !
I love an old-fashioned cake, it reminds me of my grandparents and how all those old recipes need to be preserved or we'll lose them. Can't wait to try this one.
Pinning to save! =)
Thanks!
Melissa
http://readingnks.blogspot.com/
Holy cow that sounds incredible! Great job as usual Jamie. Make sure you stop by my first ever link party and share some of your fantastic recipes!
Happy Blogging!
Happy Valley Chow
That would be an awesome birthday to have. I'm jealous, you get to have fireworks for your party every year 🙂 The cake looks delicious. I love old recipes, they are always so good!
Jamie, how awesome that your birthday is on July 4th!! I am a huge fan of old recipes too, just like Lisa, and this sounds WOW! And the glaze? A must try! Thanks for sharing and pinning!
G'day! Happy pre birthday, TRUE!
Your cake looks delish! I want a piece now! Thank you!
Cheers! Joanne
What's On The List
http://www.whatsponthelsit.net
Foodie Friday Friends Party too!
Your cake looks so delicious. I love anything spices and with apples in. I found your blog entry on Tidy Mom, I've lovin It.
PLEASE give me a slice of this fabulous cake, it looks delicious! Hope you have a wonderful week end and thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
Just for you, I think I'll make this for our 4th of July celebration 🙂 That is a pretty cool birthday to have. Mine is June 4th, and once upon a time I got it confused with the 4th of July. I was pretty disappointed when I realized my mistake. Very cool birthday indeed.
Happy early birthday and I lo-ove apple spice cake. Thanks for sharing at Inspire Us Thursday at Organized 31.
Yum, looks good, Jamie!
Actually, on July 4th I will be thinking about Jamie at Love Bakes Good Cakes. I like it when someone's birthday falls on a holiday. Makes it easier to remember. Ha! This cake is packed full of spices!
Thank you for sharing this week.
Hello Jamie, featuring this tomorrow 🙂
Awesome Jamie, I love spice cake hope you can join us for this week's FFF Fresh Fruit Party!
I saw this on a 4th of July roundup and just had to pin it. I hope you’ll share your best post of the week on my Friday Flash Blog Linky Party going on ALL weekend at The Jenny Evolution.
Jennifer
thejennyevolution.com
I saw this on a 4th of July roundup and just had to pin it. I hope you’ll share your best post of the week on my Friday Flash Blog Linky Party going on ALL weekend at The Jenny Evolution.
Jennifer
thejennyevolution.com