Description
A moist and warmly spiced company spice cake, perfect for gatherings or a cozy treat. This classic recipe combines cinnamon, ginger, allspice, and cloves with applesauce and buttermilk for a tender crumb, topped with a simple vanilla glaze.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ginger
- ¼ teaspoon allspice
- ¼ teaspoon cloves
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup sugar
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- ¾ cup buttermilk
- ½ cup applesauce
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Icing
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 ½ tablespoon milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius) and grease an 8×8 inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, and cloves. Stir well to evenly distribute the spices throughout the flour mixture.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In a separate large bowl, beat the eggs, sugar, brown sugar, and vegetable oil until smooth and well mixed. Then add the applesauce, buttermilk, and vanilla extract, mixing until fully incorporated.
- Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures: Slowly add the wet ingredient mixture to the dry ingredient bowl. Stir gently until just combined, being careful not to overmix to keep the cake tender.
- Bake the Cake: Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish, spreading evenly. Bake in the preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Prepare the Icing: While the cake is baking, mix the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract in a small bowl until smooth to create a simple glaze.
- Glaze the Cake: When the cake comes out of the oven and is still warm, pour the icing evenly over the top so it seeps into the cake slightly, adding moisture and sweetness.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the cake to cool for about 20 minutes in the pan. Once cooled, slice and enjoy this flavorful and comforting spice cake.
Notes
- Ensure not to overmix the batter to keep the cake soft and tender.
- The applesauce adds moisture and reduces the need for extra oil or butter.
- You can substitute buttermilk with milk + a teaspoon of lemon juice or vinegar if needed.
- For a dairy-free version, replace buttermilk with a plant-based milk and use a suitable egg substitute.
- The glaze can be adjusted in thickness by adding more milk or powdered sugar as desired.
- Store leftovers covered at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerate for up to 5 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35-40 minutes
- Category: Baking
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: spice cake, cinnamon cake, applesauce cake, vanilla glaze, homemade cake, comfort dessert, classic spice cake
