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    Home » Desserts » Apple Spice Cake

    Apple Spice Cake

    Published: Sep 24, 2018 · Modified: Oct 17, 2018 by Kate · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Apple spice cake is a moist apple cake recipe that's made with fresh apples, applesauce, and plenty of warm spices for a simple and delicious dessert!
    Apple spice cake cupcake with cream cheese frosting

    Every fall I look forward to apple and pumpkin treats.

    These apple spice cake cupcakes are moist apple cupcakes. They're made with both applesauce and grated fresh apple. They have plenty of warm spices that make them perfect for fall.

    I like to top these cupcakes with cream cheese frosting. It goes really well with moist spiced cake (think carrot cake), but you could eat it plain or with powdered sugar on top.

    How to make apple spice cake

    Even though there are quite a few ingredients, this apple spice cake comes together quickly.

    Just whisk the dry ingredients together and then beat the brown sugar, oil, and apple sauce together. Mix in the eggs and vanilla.

    Stir in half of the flour, the buttermilk, and then the remaining half of the flour mixture. Add the grated apple, and that's it!

    What do you frost apple cake with?

    You can go simple and just top the cake with powdered sugar, or you can frost it with cream cheese frosting.

    How to store apple cake

    Unfrosted apple spice cake can be stored, covered, at room temperature. If you frost it with cream cheese frosting, I recommend storing the cupcakes in the fridge.

    Apple spice cake cupcake on a wire cooling rack

    More apple desserts!

    • Apple Crisp
    • Slow Cooker Cranberry Apple Crisp
    • M&M Caramel Apples

    If you’ve tried this apple spice cake recipe, don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below. I love to hear from people who've made my recipes! You can SUBSCRIBE to receive my latest recipe newsletters or FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST for even more delicious food.

    Apple Spice Cupcake with cream cheese frosting

    Apple Spice Cake

    Moist apple spice cake recipe
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 20 minutes
    Cook Time: 18 minutes
    Total Time: 38 minutes
    Servings: 24 cupcakes
    Calories: 151kcal
    Author: Kate @ I Heart Eating

    Ingredients

    • 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
    • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
    • ½ teaspoon allspice
    • â…› teaspoon ground nutmeg
    • â…› teaspoon ground cloves
    • 1 ¾ cups brown sugar packed
    • â…“ cup vegetable oil
    • ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
    • 4 large eggs
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 1 cup buttermilk regular or low-fat
    • 1 cup peeled and grated baking apple*
    • Cream Cheese Frosting
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 12-cup muffin tins with paper liners. Set aside. 
    • In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, nutmeg, and cloves together. Set aside. 
    • In a large mixing bowl, beat brown sugar, vegetable oil, and applesauce together until well-combined.
    • Mix in eggs and vanilla.
    • Add in ½ of the flour mixture and mix on low speed until combined.
    • Mix in buttermilk until just combined.
    • Add remaining ½ of the flour mixture and mix until just combined.
    • Stir in grated apple until just combined.
    • Divide mixture evenly among two prepared muffin pans.
    • Bake for 18-25 minutes, or until cupcakes spring back when lightly touched. 
    • Allow to cool in pan for about 5-10 minutes. 
    • Remove to wire cooling rack, and let come to room temperature before frosting.

    Notes

    *Peel and grate the apples before measuring
    **Nutrition values are estimates. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1unfrosted cupcake | Calories: 151kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 27mg | Sodium: 127mg | Potassium: 89mg | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 45IU | Vitamin C: 0.4mg | Calcium: 43mg | Iron: 0.9mg
    Tried this recipe? Rate it below. Mention @i_heart_eating on Instagram & tag #ihearteating!
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    About Kate

    Kate got her first cookbook when she was five years old, and she hasn't stopped cooking since then! Her delicious recipes have been featured on Food Network, MSN, Better Homes & Gardens, Buzzfeed, The Huffington Post, and more. When she's not cooking or baking, she can be found on her mini farm with her husband and her five kids.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. janet

      July 24, 2020 at 9:33 pm

      For a 13 x 9 pan, what would the baking time be? Thank you!

      Reply
    2. janet

      July 14, 2020 at 10:42 pm

      If I wanted to make this as a cake instead of cupcakes, what size pan would I use? (loaf pan, 13 x 9 pan, 9 x 9 square pan, or an 9 x 9 pan). Thank you! Looking forward to making this! Have all the ingredients, but don;t really need all those cupcakes!

      Reply
      • Kate

        July 17, 2020 at 9:15 am

        Since it makes 24 cupcakes, it should give you enough batter for a 9x13-inch pan. Hope that helps!

        Reply
    3. Marilyn

      December 13, 2018 at 11:24 pm

      5 stars
      Delicous! The apple cake was moist, and the frosting was just wonderful.

      Reply
      • Kate

        December 13, 2018 at 11:40 pm

        Thank you! I'm glad that you enjoyed the cake. =) Thank you for commenting!

        Reply

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    I’m Kate Dean- mom to five young kids, recipe developer, and photographer. Here at I Heart Eating®, I share my family’s favorite tried-and-true recipes.

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