Apple Cake

Apple Cake

This cake is perfect to serve the night before Thanksgiving.  Bake it during the day to get the holiday spices swirling through the house before you begin the serious T-Day cooking!
Plan Ahead Tip: The butter and cream cheese for the frosting need to come to room temperature.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 55 minutes
Servings: 24
Course: Thanksgiving
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Apple Cake
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 2 large Granny Smith Apples peeled and diced
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 1 cup natural applesauce
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 eggs
Frosting
  • ½ cup unsalted butter softened
  • 1 8oz. pkg cream cheese softened
  • 1 ⅓ cups powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Method
 

Apple Cake
  1. Preheat oven to 325°. Lightly grease a 13" x 9" baking dish.           
  2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk flour, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
  3. Add the diced apples and stir.
  4. In a medium mixing bowl, beat sugar, applesauce, vanilla, and eggs with an electric mixer until well blended.
  5. Add to the flour mixture and stir just until combined.
  6. Pour into a 13" x 9" greased baking dish.  Bake at 325° for 45-55 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.  Cool completely.
Frosting
  1. Beat butter and cream cheese with an electric mixer until smooth.
  2. Add powdered sugar and vanilla, beating until blended.  Spread over the cake.
  3. Serve immediately or store in the refrigerator for up to three days.

Notes

Recipe adapted from Cooking Light Magazine.