Vegan Old Fashioned Applesauce Cake

Vegan Old Fashioned Applesauce Cake 🍏 We’ve updated a beloved family recipe by creating the perfect marriage of apples, spice and everything nice using all vegan ingredients in this scrumptiously moist & delicious cake.

Few aromas are more enticing than the welcoming scent of baked apples, cinnamon and nutmeg wafting from the kitchen. There’s nothing quite like enjoying a cup of coffee or tea with a slice of this wonderfully sweet, lightly spicy and deliciously moist applesauce cake.

This recipe is one that has been in my family for generations, handed down from my great aunt – to my mother – to me – and now, to my daughter Madison. I have been creating and curating a collection of vegan fall and Thanksgiving inspired recipes and asked Madi if she would work her culinary magic on Aunt Velma’s old fashioned applesauce cake by replacing the dairy and eggs with plant-based ingredients. We couldn’t believe how great it smelled while baking and how gorgeous it looked when she took it out of the oven. Then we tasted it. OMG. It was so fantastic we decided to make another one – this time with fresh cranberries. Holy wow!

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A (very) brief history of Applesauce Cake

Since this recipe certainly has a history in our family, I was curious to see how it originated. According to Wikipedia it dates all the way back to colonial times in the United States. In fact, this delicious dessert is so popular there is an official day dedicated to it – National Applesauce Cake Day which occurs annually on June 6th. Now that’s something sweet to celebrate!

Variations

This recipe is so easy to prepare. One of the things I love about it is the variety of ingredients you can add to the basic batter. You can create a lot of different cakes with just one simple recipe.

For this post, we included fresh cranberries. They were a fabulous addition. The tart berries provided a colorful and tasty contrast to the lightly spicy and sweet cake. Imagine what else you can add? Here’s a few ideas:

• Fresh blueberries
• Chopped walnuts or pecans
• Chopped fresh apples
• Golden raisins
• Chopped dates

Applesauce is, of course, the key ingredient in the marvelous cake. You can use sweetened or unsweetened, smooth or chunky, depending on your preference. Personally, I love to make homemade applesauce, so that is what we used. If you haven’t created your own before, it’s super simple and so delicious!

How to make Apple Sauce Cake

I decided to use a Bundt pan to bake this cake, but you can also use a basic round or square cake pan.

Equipment

• Electric mixer (hand or stand)
• 2 large mixing bowls
• A 9″ bundt/tube pan or square baking pan
• Measuring spoons
• Measuring cup
• A silicone spatula

Ingredients

• Flour 
• Applesauce
• Baking soda
• Salt
• Cinnamon 
• Nutmeg ground
• Cloves ground
• Butter – vegan
• Sugar
• Vegan egg replacer
• Vanilla

🍏 See the complete recipe below for details

I decided to finish this cranberry applesauce cake with a light dusting of powdered sugar, which gives it a festive holiday look. While this cake is perfectly delish just as is, if you prefer your cake with a little something extra, why not drizzle the top with a simple lemon glaze icing (see notes in the recipe below) or slather on some of our luscious vegan lemon cream cheese frosting. Enjoy!

🥕If you love this recipe, here are a few more sweet ideas!

• Easy Vegan Applesauce
• Vegan Orange Cranberry Bread
• Easy Vegan Homemade Pumpkin Bread
• Vegan Oatmeal Muffins
• Vegan Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting

very vegan 🍏 very good

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ If you’ve enjoyed this recipe, please rate it using stars in the comment section below the recipe. It helps other readers find it online & decide if they want to give it a try too!. Thanks a bunch!🥕

Vegan Old Fashioned Applesauce Cake

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 55 minutes

Servings: 12

Author: Connie 🥕

Vegan Old Fashioned Applesauce Cake 🍏 We've updated a beloved family recipe by creating the perfect marriage of apples, spice and everything nice using all vegan ingredients in this scrumptiously moist & delicious cake.

Print Recipe

US Customary – Metric

Equipment

• Electric mixer (hand or stand)
• 2 large mixing bowls
• A 9" bundt/tube pan or square baking pan
• Measuring spoons
• Measuring cup
• A silicone spatula

Ingredients

• 2 cups flour all-purpose
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp cinnamon ground
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg ground
• 1/2 tsp cloves ground
• 1/2 cup vegan butter softened – not melted (I like Miyoko's butter)
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 egg replacer equivalent of 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 cup applesauce chilled

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350°F
• In a large mixing bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. Set aside.
• In another large mixing bowl, beat together butter, sugar, vegan egg replacer and vanilla. Mix until thoroughly combined and smooth.
• Add applesauce to wet ingredients. Mix until combined then gradually add in dry ingredients. Continue mixing on medium-high speed for 3-4 minutes.
• Fold in cranberries, nuts or any other add-ins to the batter.

  🥕See notes below.
• Prepare baking pan by coating with butter or oil and then dusting with flour.
• Pour batter into pan. Place in oven on middle shelf.
• Bake at 350° for 55 minutes.
• Place cake in pan on a cooling rack for at least 15 – 20 minutes prior to removing from pan. Allow to cool completely before adding icing or powdered sugar.

  🥕See notes below.
• Leftover cake is best stored (covered) in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Notes

🥕This recipe is for basic Vegan Old Fashioned Applesauce Cake, which is absolutely scrumptious all on its own. You can enjoy it just as it is or add one or more extra ingredients such as: 

• 2/3 cup whole fresh cranberries or blueberries (lightly dusted in flour)
• 2/3 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
• 2/3 cup chopped apples
• 2/3 cup golden raisins

 

🥕To frost or not to frost? That is the question. This sweet and moist cake can be enjoyed with or without icing or frosting, but if you decide to add a little something extra, might I suggest:

• A light dusting of powdered sugar over the top of the cake. It’s a perfect finish as a holiday dessert. Simply pour a tablespoon or two of powdered sugar into a small strainer or sifter and lightly shake it over the cake until it’s as you like it!
• Drizzle the top of the cake with a lemon glaze icing. Combine 1/2 cup powdered sugar with 1/4 cup lemon juice (add juice 1 tbsp at a time until desired consistency). Drizzle with a teaspoon over top of cake. You could also make a similar icing with apple juice and a pinch of cinnamon.
• Frost the cake with vegan lemon cream cheese frosting. See the recipe here.

Tried this recipe? I love to see your photos!Mention @thecarrotunderground or tag #thecarrotunderground!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ If you’ve enjoyed this recipe, please rate it in the comments below. Sharing your experience helps others decide if they should give it a try too. Thanks a bunch!🥕