This Old-Fashioned Applesauce Cake can be easily prepared in one bowl, and the cinnamon buttercream frosting is also nice and quick. This is an egg-free and dairy-free recipe so ideal for vegans, those with egg or dairy allergies, and for anyone who loves budget-friendly baking. Our applesauce cake is moist, fluffy, light and warmly spiced. Applesauce cake has notes of delicious carrot cake as well as gingerbread cake, and is reminiscent in texture to a British coffee cake, so if you like those flavours and textures you'll enjoy our applesauce cake.
Our applesauce cake is adapted from an 1950's Stork margarine recipe that was found in an old vintage recipe booklet. The cake was titled Apple Spice Cake. If like me you enjoy watching The Waltons then you'll love this cake to enjoy along with the episodes as baking Olivia Walton's applesauce cake is a firm fan favourite.
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🍎 Why You'll Love This Old-Fashioned Applesauce Cake
- A vintage gem adapted from a 1950s Stork margarine booklet, and it's just the kind of simple, comforting cake that was served by Olivia Walton herself. If you're a fan of The Waltons, this is the perfect cake to enjoy alongside an episode.
- True to its Depression-era and wartime origins, this cake skips the eggs and butter, relying on applesauce for natural moisture and sweetness just as home bakers did when rationing was in place.
- With warm flavours of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cloves, this cake is rich in cosy, homely traditional flavours.
- All-in-one-bowl cake as you can just pop everything into a bowl and mix. No fancy steps, no fuss just good old-fashioned baking.
- Perfect for autumn, Christmas, or any day you're craving a slice of something simple and special. Serve with tea or coffee for a proper old-time teatime treat.
What is an applesauce cake?
If you would like to find out more about the origins of applesauce cake then click the toggle '📜 ' below.
📜 What is an applesauce cake?
An applesauce cake is a simple cake which is prepared with applesauce, flour, sugar, and a fat such as butter, margarine or oil. Spices are added to provide warm flavours, along with dried fruits and nuts.
Applesauce cake originates back to the New England American colonies sometime during the 17th-18th centuries. When the colonists arrived in the New World the only apples available was from the crab apple trees which produced small wild bitter fruits. However, the colonists brought apple seeds with them which eventually provided crops of sweet apples which were perfect for cakes.
John Chapman, more commonly known as Johnny Appleseed, greatly contributed to the development of apple trees in the New World. Johnny Appleseed is an American folk hero as during the early 1800s he travelled around America with his apple seeds, with the mission to establish as many nurseries of apple trees as possible.
During the early and mid 1900s applesauce cake was a very popular addition to American cookbooks, as well as featuring in British, Canadian, and American recipe booklets and newspapers. As applesauce cake does not require eggs and only a little butter or shortening, it became a useful frugal depression era cake during the 1930s. The other name for 'depression era applesauce cake' was 'poor mans cake'.
Also, many applesauce cakes were baked during the World War Two 1940's era where it was known as 'War Cake' in the UK, America, and Canada. As well as saving eggs, butter, and dairy, applesauce cake could make good use of windfall apples. The apple sauce provided sweetness so less sugar was required saving the precious sugar rations.
Nowadays, many people have a treasured family applesauce cake recipe handed down through the generations, that when baked brings back nostalgic, fond memories of loved ones. Although many modern recipes now add eggs and butter, they are not really necessary for a light, moist and delicious applesauce cake.
The US love applesauce cake so much that they have a special 'National Applesauce Cake Day' held each year on the 6th June. Another day to appreciate the homely apple and bake a nice family cake is 'National Apple Day' on the 21st October.
Applesauce cake is such a delicious bake and it is the perfect home-baked cake to share with friends and family. Also, it is the perfect egg-free & dairy-free cake for cake sales, or to enjoy for dessert for a special meal.
If you or a family member are not fans of traditional fruit cake during the festive and holiday seasons, then try this old-fashioned spiced applesauce cake as a Christmas cake alternative. When my daughter had her first bite of applesauce cake she immediately exclaimed ''It tastes like Christmas!''. And I have to agree!
I first wanted to bake an applesauce cake after watching The Walton's movie 'The Homecoming: A Christmas Story' [1971], which is set in depression era US, and the mother Olivia Walton baked an applesauce cake for a Christmas treat. Although Olivia's cake featured a whisky frosting courtesy of the Baldwin sister's bootleg whisky recipe whereas our family applesauce cake has a cinnamon buttercream frosting.
How to prepare
Both the applesauce cake and the cinnamon buttercream frosting are prepared with the simple all-in-one bowl and mix method.
Step 1: Sift the plain flour, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda into a mixing bowl. Add the margarine, sugar, spices, salt, raisins, walnuts, vanilla, applesauce, and milk, and mix well.
Step 2: Scoop the cake mixture into the baking pan.
Step 3: Bake for 45-60 minutes, exact times will depend on your one.
Step 4: Cool on a wire rack before decorating. Either sprinkle icing sugar over the top and slice into 9-12 portions or prepare a cinnamon buttercream frosting.
Prepare the frosting:
Step 1: Add the margarine, icing sugar, vanilla essence, cinnamon powder and a tablespoon of water to a bowl and use an electric hand whisk or similar to whizz to a smooth, thick frosting.
Step 2: Spread the frosting over the cake and scatter the chopped walnuts over the top.
Serving suggestion: Enjoy a slice of applesauce cake with a tasty cup of tea or coffee. The warm sweet spices especially complement a nice cup of coffee.
***please note: for US measurements click the 'US customary button' within the recipe and the measurements will switch to tablespoons, cups, and ounces.***
📖 Recipe
Old-Fashioned Spice Applesauce Cake
Equipment
- 7 inch square baking pan [such as a cake tin/brownie tin]
- Baking paper.
- Mixing bowl
- mixing spoon
- sieve
- cooling rack
- electric hand whisk [for preparing the frosting or you can prepare by hand with a wooden or mixing spoon, or manual hand whisk]
Ingredients
Cake:
- 280 grams plain flour [all-purpose or cake flour]
- 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda [baking soda]
- 225 grams granulated sugar [or caster sugar]
- 300 grams smooth applesauce or apple puree
- 142 grams margarine [we used Stork baking spread which is vegan-friendly, or you can use your usual baking fat]
- 2 tablespoons milk [we used soya milk, but any milk will do]
- 45 grams walnuts [chopped, or pecans]
- 45 grams raisins [or sultanas, dried cranberries are also very nice in this cake]
- 1 teaspoon ginger powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon powder
- 1 teaspoon mixed spice powder [or pumpkin pie spice mix or apple pie spice]
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon salt [we used sea salt]
Frosting: [optional as can simply sprinkle with icing [powdered] sugar]
- 85 grams margarine [we used Stork baking spread]
- 225 grams icing sugar
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla essence
Garnish:
- 3 tablespoons walnuts [chopped/broken]
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180°C (160°C Fan) / 350°F / Gas Mark 4.
- Grease the baking tin with margarine and line with baking paper.
- Add all the cake ingredients - plain flour, sugar, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, spices, salt, raisins, walnuts, applesauce, margarine, milk, and vanilla - to a mixing bowl.280 grams plain flour, 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda, 225 grams granulated sugar, 300 grams smooth applesauce or apple puree, 142 grams margarine, 2 tablespoons milk, 45 grams walnuts, 45 grams raisins, 1 teaspoon ginger powder, 1 teaspoon cinnamon powder, 1 teaspoon mixed spice powder, ¼ teaspoon ground cloves, 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg, ½ teaspoon salt
- Stir everything together until thoroughly mixed.
- Scoop the cake batter into the cake tin and level the surface a little.
- Bake on the middle shelf for 45-60 minutes. Fan ovens may bake a bit faster. In our electric oven, the cake usually takes between 50- 60 minutes at 180°C, but start checking at the 45-minute mark, as yours may be ready sooner.
- The baked cake will be brown, risen, firm, and a skewer popped in will come out clean.
- Leave to cool in the pan for about 10-15 minutes before removing to cool completely on a cooling rack.
Frosting:
- Either sprinkle with icing sugar or prepare a cinnamon buttercream frosting.
- For the butter cream frosting add the margarine, icing sugar, cinnamon powder, vanilla, and one tablespoon of water to a mixing bowl.[if preferred omit the cinnamon or replace it with ginger powder]85 grams margarine, 225 grams icing sugar, ¼ teaspoon cinnamon powder, 1 teaspoon vanilla essence
- Using an electric hand whisk whizz the ingredients together for 1-2 minutes until thick and easy to spread over the cake.
- Spread the frosting over the cake and sprinkle a few chopped walnuts over to finish.3 tablespoons walnuts
Notes
- Nutritional information is for guidance only and is not an exact calculation as ingredients vary.
- Applesauce cake can be stored at room temperature within a cake container for 3-4 days. Wrap in baking paper if preferred for additional freshness. If your house is very warm it may be best to store within the refrigerator.
- Unfrosted cake can be frozen for 3-4 months, well wrapped. The frosted cake can also be frozen but the icing texture may be affected.
- If a simpler topping is preferred then just sprinkle icing/powdered sugar over the applesauce cake.
- Omit the raisins and walnuts if preferred.
- Dried cranberries or sultanas are a nice replacement for the raisins.
- Stork baking spread was used for the cake, as well as for the frosting.
- Homemade apple sauce can be used for this cake, simply stew chopped apples with a little water until they are very soft. Mash well or puree with an immersion/stick blender. Shop bought apple sauce such as Colemans, or shops own brands of apple sauce can also be used but if they are chunky or diced then blend the sauce before use.
- Health shops/wholefood stores often sell apple puree which is just 100% apples and compared to apple sauce it is not too expensive. Our health store has jarred apple puree in 700 grams for £2.40, and this can do many recipes, also any leftovers can be frozen in ice cube trays if needed. We used jarred apple puree for this recipe.
- For the different spices if you do not have the individual ones available then just use 3-4 teaspoons of: either mixed spice powder, apple pie spice mix, or pumpkin pie spice mix. Or replace the cloves or nutmeg for extra mixed spice, etc.
- We are a plant-based family so we use vegan-friendly ingredients but you can replace those with your usual milk and margarine/butter.
Nutrition
Frequently asked questions
Any smooth applesauce or apple puree is perfect for applesauce cake. You can use ordinary applesauce from a jar or tub, even the ones intended for savoury dishes such as Colemans Bramley Applesauce, or a vegan friendly store brand version. Although, if the apple sauce is chunky or has cubed apple pieces, it is best to blend it smooth, as the apple pieces could affect the cake texture.
Additionally, many health shops or wholefood stores sell apple puree which is just 100% apples pureed and this is also perfect for applesauce cake, as it's what I used.
However, home-made applesauce is just as good. Simply chop peeled apples and add to a saucepan with a few tablespoons of water or apple juice, and cook until the apples are very soft. Either mash well until smooth or use an immersion stick blender. Once cool, the apple sauce or puree can be used for recipes.
Leftover shop or home-made applesauce or puree can be frozen in ice cube trays, then once frozen pop them out and add to a freezer bag or tub.
More egg-free and dairy-free old-fashioned cake recipes
A few of our family favourite old-fashioned teatime cakes are this Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Cake which has the best crunchy cinnamon topping, and this Old-Fashioned Seed Cake. We also love this old school dinners Jam and Coconut Sponge, and this Old-Fashioned Rice Cake.
Comments
Prepared our Old-Fashioned Applesauce Cake? Do let us know how you got on with the recipe by dropping us a comment below. It's very much appreciated. Thanks so much! Jacq x
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