Indulge in the Pioneer Woman's Delight: The Ultimate Applesauce Cake Recipe

Dive into the heartwarming flavors of a classic dessert with this incredibly moist and delicious applesauce cake. Inspired by the timeless appeal of homestyle baking, this recipe echoes the comforting spirit of pioneer cooking, bringing a touch of nostalgia to your modern kitchen. Perfect for any occasion, from cozy family gatherings to festive holiday spreads, this applesauce cake is destined to become a cherished favorite.

What Makes This Applesauce Cake Irresistibly Good?

This isn’t just any applesauce cake; it’s a symphony of textures and tastes that will captivate your senses. Imagine sinking your fork into a slice of cake so moist it practically melts in your mouth, studded with plump raisins and crunchy walnuts, and infused with the warm embrace of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. This recipe elevates the humble applesauce cake to gourmet status, ensuring every bite is an experience to savor.

This cake’s exceptional moistness comes from the magic of applesauce itself. Beyond adding a delicate apple flavor, applesauce acts as a natural humectant, locking in moisture and creating a tender crumb that lasts for days. The blend of fall spices evokes a sense of cozy comfort, making it the perfect treat for crisp autumn days or any time you crave a touch of homemade goodness. The addition of walnuts and raisins not only enhances the flavor profile but also provides delightful textural contrasts, preventing the cake from being overwhelmingly soft.

A slice of moist applesauce cake with visible raisins and walnuts, served on a white plate, invitingly lit to highlight its texture.

A Nod to Tradition: The Old-Fashioned Charm

This recipe draws inspiration from old-fashioned baking traditions, reminiscent of the resourceful and comforting desserts prepared by pioneer women. While we might not know a “Bunny from West Virginia” personally, the spirit of sharing treasured recipes from community cookbooks and passed-down family collections is at the heart of this cake. It’s a celebration of simple ingredients transformed into something extraordinary, a testament to the enduring appeal of home-baked goodness.

Baking this cake in a tube pan (or a Bundt pan as a close substitute) isn’t just for aesthetics; it ensures even baking and creates a beautiful, ring-shaped cake perfect for showcasing on a dessert table. This method is a hallmark of classic cake recipes, harking back to a time when presentation was as important as taste.

An Amish Applesauce Cake baked in a tube pan, showcasing its ring shape and golden-brown crust, presented on a wooden cake stand.

Crafting Your Applesauce Cake from Scratch: Simpler Than You Think

Don’t be intimidated by the idea of baking from scratch. This applesauce cake recipe is surprisingly straightforward, even for novice bakers. It’s a delightful journey of simple steps culminating in a rewarding homemade treat.

The process involves creaming together the shortening, sugar, and egg to create a light and airy base. Dry ingredients are then combined, and a clever technique of adding baking soda to boiling water unlocks a secret to the cake’s texture. Alternating between wet and dry ingredients ensures a smooth batter, and finally, raisins and walnuts are gently folded in. A greased and floured tube pan, a pour of the batter, and a bake in the oven are all that stand between you and a slice of heaven. The aroma that fills your kitchen as this cake bakes is a reward in itself, a promise of the deliciousness to come.

A close-up shot of a slice of Amish Applesauce Cake, displaying its moist crumb, visible spices, raisins, and walnuts, emphasizing its homemade quality.

Essential Ingredients for Applesauce Cake Perfection

To embark on your applesauce cake baking adventure, gather these key ingredients:

All-Purpose Flour: The foundation of the cake, providing structure.
Spices (Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Cloves): The soul of the cake, delivering warmth and autumnal flavors.
Shortening: Contributes to the cake’s moistness and tenderness.
Sugar: Sweetness and moisture, essential for a delightful dessert.
Egg: Binds the ingredients and adds richness.
Applesauce: The star ingredient, providing flavor and unparalleled moisture. Unsweetened applesauce allows you to control the sweetness, but sweetened works too.
Baking Soda & Boiling Water: A crucial combination for leavening and texture.
Raisins & Walnuts: For delightful chewy and crunchy textures and nutty flavors.
Salt: Enhances the flavors of all other ingredients.

An overhead shot of the ingredients for Amish Applesauce Cake, neatly arranged on a wooden surface, showcasing flour, spices, applesauce, nuts, and raisins.

Step-by-Step Guide to Baking Your Super Moist Applesauce Cake

Follow these simple steps to create your own incredible applesauce cake:

Preheat & Prep: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Generously grease and flour a tube pan, ensuring all surfaces are coated to prevent sticking.
Cream Wet Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the shortening, sugar, and egg until light and fluffy using a stand mixer or electric hand mixer.
Sift Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Sifting ensures a light and airy cake crumb, but you can skip this step if you prefer.
Dissolve Baking Soda: Boil water and whisk in the baking soda until it is completely dissolved. This mixture will react with the applesauce to create a light texture.
Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually stir the applesauce into the creamed mixture. Then, alternately add the wet baking soda mixture and the sifted dry ingredients to the batter, mixing until just combined and smooth. Be careful not to overmix.
Add Raisins and Walnuts: Gently fold in the raisins and chopped walnuts until they are evenly distributed throughout the batter.
Bake to Golden Perfection: Pour the batter into the prepared tube pan and bake for approximately 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Cool & Serve: Let the cake cool in the pan on a wire rack for about 15-20 minutes before inverting it onto a serving plate to cool completely.

A collage showing step-by-step images of making Amish Applesauce Cake, including mixing ingredients, sifting flour, and pouring batter into a pan.

Tips and Variations for Your Perfect Applesauce Cake

Pan Perfection: While a tube pan is traditional, a Bundt pan works beautifully too. Just keep an eye on the baking time, as Bundt pans might bake a bit faster.
Nutty Swaps: Pecans can be substituted for walnuts if you prefer their milder, buttery flavor.
Applesauce Choices: Unsweetened applesauce is recommended to control the overall sweetness, but sweetened applesauce can be used – simply adjust the sugar in the recipe if needed.
Spice it Up: Feel free to experiment with other warming spices like ground ginger or allspice to customize the flavor profile.
Frosting Finish: For an extra touch of indulgence, consider frosting the cooled cake with a cream cheese frosting or a simple glaze.
Raisin Variety: Use dark or golden raisins, or a mix of both, for visual appeal and flavor complexity.

Storing Your Applesauce Cake

This moist applesauce cake is even more delicious the next day! Store it at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days, or freeze slices for longer storage. Thaw frozen cake at room temperature before serving.

Embrace the Pioneer Spirit of Baking

This applesauce cake is more than just a dessert; it’s a connection to comforting traditions and the simple joys of home baking. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or just starting out, this recipe promises a rewarding experience and a cake that will be devoured with delight. Bring the warmth and goodness of a pioneer kitchen to your home and bake this incredible applesauce cake today!

Print Recipe

Amish Applesauce Cake Recipe

This Amish Applesauce Cake recipe delivers a super moist and flavorful cake, studded with raisins and walnuts, and spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. It’s a delightful old-fashioned dessert perfect for any occasion.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: amish applesauce cake, from scratch applesauce cake, homemade applesauce cake, old fashioned applesauce cake, super moist applesauce cake, Applesauce Cake Pioneer Woman

Servings: 12
Calories: 417kcal
Author: Barbara

Ingredients

1/2 cup shortening (Crisco)
2 cups granulated sugar
1 large egg
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1 1/2 cups unsweetened applesauce
1/2 cup boiling water
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 cup raisins
1 cup chopped walnuts

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease and flour a tube pan.

Greasing and flouring a tube pan for Amish Applesauce Cake, ensuring even coating for easy cake release.
Whisk baking soda into boiling water until dissolved.

Baking soda being whisked into boiling water in a glass measuring cup, showing the dissolving process for Amish Applesauce Cake.
Sift together flour, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves in a bowl.

Dry ingredients for Amish Applesauce Cake being sifted into a stainless steel bowl, creating a light and airy mixture.
In a separate large bowl, cream shortening, sugar, and egg until light and fluffy.

Shortening, sugar, and egg being creamed together in a mixing bowl using an electric mixer for Amish Applesauce Cake batter.
Stir in applesauce to the creamed mixture, then alternately add the water/soda mixture and dry ingredients until everything is smooth and just incorporated.

Wet and dry ingredients being alternately added to the mixing bowl to create the Amish Applesauce Cake batter, showing a smooth consistency.
Stir in raisins and walnuts until evenly distributed.

Raisins and walnuts being stirred into the Amish Applesauce Cake batter in a mixing bowl, ensuring even distribution.
Pour batter into the prepared tube pan. Bake for 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Recipe Notes

Unsweetened applesauce is preferred, but sweetened can be used.
Dark or golden raisins both work well.
Grease and flour the tube pan thoroughly for easy removal. Parchment paper at the bottom can also help.
A Bundt pan is a suitable substitute for a tube pan, but baking time may vary.
Pecans can replace walnuts if desired.
For a shortcut, try a cake mix applesauce cake recipe.

Nutrition

Indulge in the Pioneer Woman’s Delight: The Ultimate Applesauce Cake Recipe