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–+ servings
Applesauce Cake

Applesauce Cake

This tender applesauce cake comes wrapped in a whipped cream cheese frosting. Fall in a bite!
5 from 1 vote
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Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 55 minutes
Chill Time 1 hour
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 8

Equipment

  • 8 inch springform pan
  • parchment paper
  • disposable piping bag
  • star tip
  • bench scraper
  • rubber dough scraper

Ingredients
  

For the applesauce cake

  • 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
  • 3/4 tbsp ground cinnamon
  • 3/4 tbsp ground ginger
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
  • 2 eggs beaten
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk
  • 1/4 cup canola oil

For the frosting

  • 8 oz cream cheese at room temperature
  • 1 3/4 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • 1/2 tsp almond extract

To decorate:

  • 1 cup walnuts or pecans toasted and finely chopped
  • 8 whole walnuts or pecans

Instructions
 

For the applesauce cake

  • Heat oven to 350 F. Butter the bottom and sides, and line the bottom of an 8-inch springform cake pan with a circle of parchment paper.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients (flour, cinnamon, ginger, salt and baking soda).
  • Add the wet ingredients (eggs, sugar, buttermilk, applesauce and oil) to the flour mixture, and whisk gently until combined.
  • Use a rubber spatula to pour batter into the prepared pan.
  • Bake until the cake is just barely firm to the touch, toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, and the edges of the cake begin to pull away from the pan -- about 55 minutes.
  • Let the cake cool on a wire rack, then use a dinner knife to loosen the sides and invert the cake onto the rack.
  • Remove the parchment paper. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and place in freezer for at least 30 minutes to make slicing easier.

For the frosting

  • In the bowl of an electric mixer, using the paddle attachment, cream together the cream cheese and powdered sugar at medium speed until smooth.
  • Pour in the heavy cream and almond extract and beat to combine.
  • Switch to the whip attachment and whisk at high speed until very think, with a consistency like a mousse.

To assemble:

  • Use a serrated knife to trim the top of the cake and cut it in half.
  • Place the top half on your cake card. Cover the top with a thick layer of frosting.
  • Top with the second half of the cake. Spread a thin layer of icing on the cake (crumb coat) and then chill another 30 minutes in the refrigerator to set.
  • Ice the cake, making the sides and top as neat as possible (use an offset spatula or a rubber dough scraper, leaving a half cup of frosting to decorate the top of the cake.
  • Use a bench scraper to gently press the finely chopped walnuts into the sides of the cake.
  • Put a small star piping tip in a disposable piping bag and trim off the bottom of the bag. Use a rubber spatula to scoop the remaining frosting into the piping bag. Pipe 8 small rosettes at evenly space intervals around the edge of the cake and top each with a walnut half.

Notes

This is the perfect cake for a fall party - it freezes unfrosted extremely well. It can be defrosted overnight in the refrigerator and iced and decorated the day of a party.
Keyword applesauce, cream cheese
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