This Applesauce Cake is sturdy, low in processed sugar, and lightly spiced, and topped with cream cheese frosting. It’s ideal for use as a smash cake with extra leftover for the rest of the party!
Birthday cake.
One of those rare treats that are allowed to be over the top, decadent, and whatever you want it to be.
When we celebrated my second son’s first birthday, I had a hard time letting him eat his fill of a sugar-filled treat. I took that as the perfect opportunity to perfect a smash cake fit for a baby!
What makes this the best applesauce smash cake?
This Applesauce Cake is a little bit healthier than your ordinary cake. It takes advantage of leftover baby food jars, which you likely have sitting around with a one year old, and is sweetened with maple syrup and a bit of brown sugar.
The cream cheese frosting is always a huge hit with babies because, in my experience, babies (and I) love cream cheese!
Applesauce cake ingredients
- Butter
- Brown sugar
- Maple syrup
- Eggs
- Flour
- Baking powder
- Cinnamon
- Baking soda
- Cloves
- Applesauce
How to make applesauce cake
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine butter and brown sugar until creamy.
- Add the maple syrup and mix until incorporated.
- Add the eggs and mix until incorporated.
- In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and cloves.
- Alternate adding the dry ingredients and the applesauce to the butter mixture, mixing until just incorporated each time.
- Spray two clean tuna cans with cooking spray, line with parchment paper, and spray again.
- Fill the tuna cans ¾ of the way full, then pour the rest of the batter into a greased 9×5 loaf pan, or use to make cupcakes.
- Bake 27 minutes at 350ºF or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Let the cakes in the tuna cans cool 15 minutes before carefully inverting onto a wire rack to cool completely.
- Once cool, frost with cream cheese frosting.
Cream cheese frosting ingredients
- Butter
- Cream cheese
- Powdered sugar
- Vanilla
How to make cream cheese frosting
- Let cream cheese and butter soften to room temperature.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat cream cheese until soft and smooth.
- Add the butter and beat on medium speed for one minute.
- Add the powdered sugar and pulse the mixer a few times until it is somewhat incorporated, then scrape down the sides of the bowl, add the vanilla, and beat until soft and smooth.
Top tips and questions
What kind of pan do you use for a small smash cake?
I’m not really one to scale down recipes (hello, tiny cheesecake tier). Instead I’m all about baking in the container you want to use and finding another way to use up the rest.
For this smash cake I cleaned out two tuna cans, sprayed them with cooking spray, lined them with parchment, and sprayed them again. The remainder of the batter I baked in a greased 9×5 loaf pan and it made a perfectly sized cake that tastes great with this glaze (I swapped one of the teaspoons of the vanilla with cinnamon) or some of the cream cheese frosting.
Can I make this applesauce cake into cupcakes?
If you prefer, you can use the remaining batter to make applesauce cupcakes. If making cupcakes, I would recommend following the cupcake recipe, filling the tuna cans first, and using the remaining batter to fill the cupcake tins.
Do I need to sift powdered sugar for cream cheese frosting?
Sifting the powdered sugar is absolutely necessary here. I have left it unsifted before and the frosting was obviously lumpy. Be sure to sift for that silky smooth finish.
Tips for customizing applesauce cake
- Add a bit of cinnamon to the frosting
- Skip the tuna tins and pour all the batter into the 9×5 loaf pan, increasing the baking time to about 1 hour
- Skip the loaf pan and make into cupcakes, reducing the baking soda to ½ teaspoon, increasing the oven temperature to 375ºF, and baking for 18 minutes or until the tops are firm and a toothpick inserted in the center of one comes out clean
- I haven’t tested it, but you could experiment with other baby food purees such as carrot or squash in place of the applesauce
More cake recipes
- Applesauce Cupcakes
- Banana Bundt Cake with Vanilla Glaze
- Chocolate Cake with Warm Butter Sauce
- Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cake
- Butternut Squash Cake
- Lemon Pound Cake
- Brown Sugar Pound Cake
- White Cake
If you make this recipe be sure to rate it, leave a comment, or tag #theliveinkitchen on Instagram!
Applesauce Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
Applesauce Cake
- ½ cup butter
- ½ cup firmly packed brown sugar
- ½ cup pure maple syrup
- 2 eggs
- 1 ¾ cups unbleached all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 cup unsweetened applesauce, (or two 4 ounce apple baby food jars)
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup butter, softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Instructions
Applesauce Cake
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Grease two clean tuna cans and one 9×5 loaf pan. Line the sides and bottom of the tuna cans with parchment and grease again.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream brown sugar and butter. Add the maple syrup and mix until incorporated. Add the eggs and beat well.
- In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and cloves.
- Alternately add the dry ingredients and the applesauce to the butter mixture, mixing just until incorporated.
- Pour the batter evenly into the prepared pans, filling the tuna cans about ¾ full. Bake about 27 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a cake comes out clean. Allow the cakes to cool in the pans for 15 minutes before carefully inverting onto a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.
Cream Cheese Frosting
- Place cream cheese in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat on low about one minute, ensuring that it is soft and pliable. Stop the mixer and scrape down the bowl. Add the butter and beat on medium speed for one minute, until thoroughly combined.
- Turn the mixer on low and add the powdered sugar, followed by the vanilla extract. Beat until almost incorporated.
- Stop the mixer and scrape down the bowl and beater. Beat on medium speed until the frosting is velvety soft.
- To frost the cake, spread frosting on top of one of the small cakes, top with the other, and spread frosting all around the outside. Use any remaining frosting to top the loaf cake, or drizzle the loaf with vanilla glaze.
Notes
, frosting adapted from Joy the Baker Cookbook
Tips for customizing applesauce cake
- Add a bit of cinnamon to the frosting
- Skip the tuna tins and pour all the batter into the 9×5 loaf pan, increasing the baking time to about 1 hour
- Skip the loaf pan and make into cupcakes, reducing the baking soda to ½ teaspoon, increasing the oven temperature to 375ºF, and baking for 18 minutes or until the tops are firm and a toothpick inserted in the center of one comes out clean
- I haven’t tested it, but you could experiment with other baby food purees such as carrot or squash in place of the applesauce
Mimi @ Culinary Couture says
I’m obsessed with applesauce so this cake is right up my alley!
Kristen says
Made this for my baby’s first birthday today and omg is it good! So glad I stumbled on your site – this will be a go-to recipe for me from now on!
Catherine says
What a delightful Autumn dessert…this cake looks moist and delicious. I want a slice right now!
Lindsay Moe says
Thanks Catherine!
Taylor Kiser says
This looks so delicious! Perfect fall dessert!
Lindsay Moe says
Thanks Taylor!
Jamie says
This cake sounds amazing. Any suggestions if I want to make a traditional layered cake using round pans?
Lindsay Moe says
I’m thinking two 8 or 9 inch layers would be about as many as you could do, unless you had 6 inch pans. I’m also guessing the bake time would be about the same, just keep an eye on them and use a toothpick to test doneness.
Katha says
I was wondering if you ever tried the recipe without the sugar? Thanks!
Lindsay Moe says
I have not. Replacing sugar in recipes can be tricky as not only the taste but also the texture can be greatly affected. If you do try it I’d love to hear how it goes!
Sarah says
Do you use salted or unsalted butter? Trying this receipe for my daughters first birthday!
Lindsay Moe says
You could honestly use either depending on your taste. I don’t mind a little saltiness in my sweets, so I’ve used both before! For a baby I would probably recommend unsalted though. Enjoy!
Rachel says
How many cups of batter is this total?
Lindsay Moe says
Unfortunately I didn’t measure the cups of batter, but when I make it again I will be sure to check and update the post!
Bhupi says
Hi have you got a tried and tested egg sub?
Lindsay Moe says
Sorry, I have not, but I think a flax egg substitute would be just fine.
Katie says
Hi! Any advice if I want to make these cake layers a day in advance?
Lindsay Moe says
They should hold up very well, just cover them with plastic wrap until you’re ready to frost. I usually bake cake layers well in advance, wrap well, and freeze until the day I want to use them.
Laura says
Hey! How long would you recommend starting for baking time for cupcakes? 25 to 30 minutes? I want to make the tuna cake size for my son’s first birthday , and cupcakes with the rest of the batter. Thank you! 🙂
Lindsay Moe says
I would check it at 20 minutes, but 25 will probably be about right. Best wishes!
Cj says
This is super yummy and very simple to make. I made this for my son’s birthday, I can’t wait for him to try it!
S O says
Hi, how many cupcakes would we get from this batter?
Thanks
Lindsay Moe says
I have not tested this as cupcakes, but I would guess 12 or slightly over.
Casey Trejo says
This sounds amazing! Planning to use it for my youngest daughter’s 1st Birthday, but I want to use a 4-inch bundt pan (it’s a donut/brunch theme). Do you think that would work?
Lindsay Moe says
That would definitely work. I would fill it 3/4 of the way and just keep an eye on it as it bakes since the cooking time could be different. Happy birthday to your daughter!