Apple Spice Cake w/ Cream Cheese Frosting
This apple spice cake is incredibly tender, packed with fresh grated apples and warm spices, and topped with a cinnamon cream cheese frosting.
Ingredients
For the cake
- 2 cups Apples with the peel
- ½ teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
- ⅔ cup Granulated sugar plus ¼ cup for the top
- ¾ cup Brown sugar
- 2 Eggs
- 2 teaspoon Cinnamon
- ⅔ cup Sour cream
- ½ teaspoon Nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon Ginger
- ½ cup Applesauce
- ⅔ cup Vegetable oil
- 2 ¼ cups Flour
- 1 ½ teaspoon Baking soda
For the whipped cream frosting
- 8 oz Cream cheese room temp, full fat
- 1 cup Heavy cream cold
- ½ cup Powdered sugar
- ⅓ teaspoon Cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
Instructions
Make the apple cake
- Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F) and line a 9x9-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
- Wash, dry, and finely grate the apples using the small holes of a box grater with the peel on.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the grated apples, sour cream, vegetable oil, granulated sugar, brown sugar, applesauce, eggs, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and kosher salt until well combined.
- Add the all-purpose flour and baking soda to the bowl. Whisk or fold with a spatula just until no flour lumps remain. Do not overmix.
- Pour the batter into your prepared 9x9-inch pan and smooth the top with a rubber spatula.
- Bake at 180°C (350°F) for 40 to 45 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean with a few moist crumbs. Let the cake cool completely in the pan on a wire rack for at least 1 hour before frosting.
Make the cream cheese frosting
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the heavy cream, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and cinnamon with an electric hand mixer until stiff peaks form.
- Add the room-temperature cream cheese and beat until smooth and creamy.
- Spread the frosting over the completely cooled cake using an offset spatula. Dust with ground cinnamon before slicing.
Notes
- Apple Selection: Use firm, tart apples like Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Braeburn for the best flavor balance and texture.
- Grating Apples: Shred apples using the smaller holes of a box grater so the pieces melt into the batter without creating soggy pockets. Leaving the peel on is fine and adds extra moisture.
- Measuring Flour: Fluff your flour with a spoon, scoop it into the measuring cup, and level it off with the back of a knife. Packing the flour will result in a dense cake.
- Room Temperature Ingredients: Ensure the eggs, sour cream, and cream cheese are at room temperature. Cold ingredients will cause the batter to mix unevenly and can make the frosting lumpy.
- Cooling Time: Allow the cake to cool completely for at least 1 hour before spreading the cream cheese frosting, or the whipped frosting will melt.
- Storage: Keep the frosted cake covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. You can serve it chilled or let it sit at room temperature for 15 minutes before serving.
Nutrition
Calories: 356kcalCarbohydrates: 41gProtein: 4gFat: 22gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 57mgSodium: 238mgPotassium: 110mgFiber: 1gSugar: 22gVitamin A: 510IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 52mgIron: 1mg
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