Name: Amish Applesauce Cake – Sweet Easy Recipe That Feels Like Home
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 60 min
Ingredients: 2 cups all-purpose flour; 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon; 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves; 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg; 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened; 1 cup sugar; 1 egg; 2 cups unsweetened applesauce; 1 cup raisins (optional); 1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)

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Ever tasted a hug in cake form? That’s what this Amish Applesauce Cake feels like. It’s not showy or flashy—just warm, spiced, and sweet in a way that reminds you of fall mornings, cozy kitchens, and someone’s grandma (even if it’s not yours). I made this cake last weekend because my applesauce was giving me the side-eye in the pantry. And wow—why don’t we bake with applesauce more often? The cake came out tender, not too dense, with the kind of cinnamon-nutmeg thing going on that makes your kitchen smell like a holiday market. Best part? No fancy mixers or decorating skills required. You mix, pour, and bake. That’s it. It’s the perfect go-to when you want to bring something homemade to the table without stress. And if you sneak a slice with your morning coffee the next day—I won’t judge. I did the same.

1) Key Takeaways
2) Easy Amish Applesauce Cake Recipe
3) Ingredients for Amish Applesauce Cake
4) How to Make Amish Applesauce Cake
5) Tips for Making Amish Applesauce Cake
6) Making Amish Applesauce Cake Ahead of Time
7) Storing Leftover Amish Applesauce Cake
8) Try these cakes next!
9) Amish Applesauce Cake
10) Nutrition

1) Key Takeaways

Old-fashioned, sweet easy recipe that’s perfect for fall or family gatherings
Made with pantry staples like applesauce, flour, and spices
Stays soft and moist for days, even without frosting
Great for make-ahead baking and snacking with coffee or tea

2) Easy Amish Applesauce Cake Recipe

If you’re anything like me, you have a few lonely jars of applesauce hiding in the pantry. Maybe they’re from that big fall haul or maybe you just forgot they were there. Either way, this sweet easy recipe is about to give them a brand-new purpose. I’ve baked a lot of cakes over the years, but this one feels like comfort food in its coziest form. No frosting, no fuss. Just old-fashioned charm baked right in.

It’s the kind of cake I make when I want something that fills the house with warm spice smells but doesn’t ask me to dress it up. The batter comes together in one bowl if you’re determined, and I always am. Bonus points for being a one-pan situation. Less mess, more cake—my favorite ratio.

This sweet easy recipe is also wildly flexible. Don’t have cloves? Skip them. Want it nutty? Toss in some chopped walnuts. There’s no wrong path here, just sweet, spiced goodness waiting to happen.

3) Ingredients for Amish Applesauce Cake

2 cups all-purpose flour: This is your foundation. A basic flour gives structure to the cake and keeps things familiar and balanced.

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda: Helps the cake rise just enough so it’s not too dense but still has a rich bite.

1/2 teaspoon salt: Salt might not sound exciting, but it brings out the sweetness and makes the spices sing.

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon: This gives the cake its signature warm and comforting flavor—don’t skimp here.

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves: Adds a slightly sharper spice note that deepens the flavor. Feel free to skip if you’re not into it.

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg: Brings that cozy, nostalgic scent we all love in fall desserts.

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened: Gives the cake richness and a tender crumb. Room temp is key here.

1 cup sugar: Sweetens the cake without overpowering the spices or the applesauce.

1 egg: Helps bind everything together and adds just the right touch of richness.

2 cups unsweetened applesauce: The real star of the show. It keeps the cake moist and naturally sweet.

1 cup raisins (optional): Some people love them, some leave them out. Either way, they add chewy little bites of sweetness.

1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional): A bit of crunch never hurt. I usually throw them in if I have them around.

4) How to Make Amish Applesauce Cake

Step 1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13 baking dish or line it with parchment if you’re going for easy cleanup.

Step 2. In one big bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. This is your dry team.

Step 3. In another bowl, cream the softened butter and sugar until fluffy. Add the egg and beat until smooth. Pour in the applesauce and stir again.

Step 4. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet. Mix just until combined. Don’t overdo it. Lumpy batter is okay.

Step 5. Fold in raisins and nuts if you’re using them. You want them scattered, not sinking.

Step 6. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Spread it evenly with a spatula.

Step 7. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let it cool before slicing—if you can wait.

5) Tips for Making Amish Applesauce Cake

This recipe doesn’t demand perfection. That’s the beauty of it. You don’t need a stand mixer. Just a bowl, a spoon, and a little patience.

For deeper flavor, let the batter sit for 10 minutes before baking. It gives the spices a head start. If you’re into sweet easy recipes with flexibility, this one checks all the boxes.

Make it your own. Add chocolate chips. Skip the raisins. Top it with a powdered sugar glaze or keep it plain. It’ll be delicious no matter what.

6) Making Amish Applesauce Cake Ahead of Time

This cake is a keeper—literally. It holds up beautifully when made a day in advance. In fact, I think it tastes even better the next day when the flavors have had time to hang out.

Once it’s cooled, cover it tightly and store at room temperature or in the fridge if your kitchen’s warm. It stays soft, thanks to the applesauce doing its thing.

Want to freeze it? Totally works. Wrap slices in parchment, toss them in a zip bag, and they’ll be ready when you need a sweet easy recipe to save your afternoon.

7) Storing Leftover Amish Applesauce Cake

Got leftovers? Wrap the cake in foil or slide it into an airtight container. It’ll stay good on the counter for 3 to 4 days, longer in the fridge.

You can reheat it gently if you want that fresh-baked feel, or just enjoy it straight up. A slice with coffee is basically breakfast, right?

It freezes like a champ, too. This is one of those sweet easy recipes you’ll keep coming back to when your sweet tooth hits at midnight.

8) Try these cakes next!

9) Amish Applesauce Cake