Applesauce Cake

INGREDIENTS

For the Cake:

• 2½ cups all-purpose flour (300g)
• 1½ cups granulated sugar (300g)
• ½ cup packed brown sugar (110g)
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons ground ginger
• ½ teaspoon ground all-spice
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup chopped walnuts (115g)
• 2 cups applesauce (480ml/560g)
• ½ cup vegetable oil (120ml)
• 3 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

For the Frosting:

• ½ cup unsalted butter softened 113g
• 3 cups confectioners’ sugar (360g)
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS

For the Cake:

1. Preheat the oven to 350F. Grease a 13×9–inch baking pan with butter or baking spray and line with parchment paper.
2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugars, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, all-spice, and salt. Stir in the walnuts.
3. In another medium mixing bowl, whisk together the applesauce, oil, eggs, and vanilla extract until well combined. Add the wet mixture to the dry mixture stirring just until combined. Pour into the prepared pan.
4. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs. Let cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. Remove the cooled cake from the pan, discarding the parchment paper and place on a serving platter.

For the Frosting:

1. In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter on medium speed until creamy. Gradually add the sugar alternating with the milk until combined. Add the vanilla and beat until fluffy, adding additional milk if needed for a spreadable consistency.
2. Spread the frosting over the top of the cake. Garnish with walnuts if desired.