Apple Spice Cake with Brown Sugar Icing
Moist apple spice cake topped with rich, fudgy brown sugar icing for the perfect cozy fall dessert.
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar packed
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
- 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1 cup peeled and diced apples
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup brown sugar packed
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 9-inch round cake pan.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
- In a large bowl, cream the softened 1/2 cup butter, granulated sugar, and 1/2 cup brown sugar with a mixer until light and fluffy.
- Beat in the eggs one at a time, then mix in the vanilla bean paste until smooth.
- Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture in 2 to 3 additions, alternating with the applesauce, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients, mixing just until combined.
- Fold in the peeled and diced apples until evenly distributed in the batter.
- Spread the batter evenly into the prepared cake pan and smooth the top.
- Bake for 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.
- Cool the cake in the pan on a wire rack for 15 minutes, then turn it out onto the rack and let it cool completely.
- For the brown sugar icing, combine the 1/4 cup butter, 1 cup brown sugar, and milk in a small saucepan over medium heat.
- Cook, stirring frequently, until the mixture comes to a gentle bubble and the sugar is dissolved, then remove from the heat.
- Whisk in the powdered sugar until the icing is smooth and pourable.
- Immediately pour the warm icing over the cooled cake, spreading quickly to the edges, and let it set before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Use firm, slightly tart apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp for the best texture and flavor.
- Let the cake cool completely before icing so the brown sugar icing sets in a shiny layer instead of soaking into the cake.
- Let the cake cool completely before icing so the brown sugar icing sets in a shiny layer instead of soaking into the cake.