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Super moist Spice Cake Recipe topped with a luscious cream cheese frosting.
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Spice Cake Recipe

Nothing captures the crisp essence of autumn quite like this homemade Spice Cake Recipe baking in the oven. The warming aroma of cozy spiced bakes, filling the kitchen is practically a fall ritual you can't miss!
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time45 minutes
Resting Time30 minutes
Total Time1 hour
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 9 Slices
Calories: 173kcal
Author: Neha

Equipment

  • 2 Mixing Bowls
  • 8 x 8 inches Cake Pan

Ingredients

  • 1 and ¼ Cups All purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
  • ½ teaspoon Baking Soda
  • ¼ teaspoon Salt
  • ¾ teaspoon Ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon Ground Ginger
  • ⅛ teaspoon Ground Cloves
  • ⅛ teaspoon Ground Nutmeg
  • ⅛ teaspoon Ground cardamom
  • ⅛ teaspoon Ground Star Anise (optional but so good)
  • ¾ cup + 2 Tablespoons (175 gms) Dark brown sugar, packed
  • ⅓ Cup Any flavorless Oil (Canola, Vegetable or Avocado)
  • ¼ Cup Apple Sauce (unsweetened)
  • 1 teaspoon Pure vanilla extract
  • 2 large Eggs at room temperature
  • ½ Cup Buttermilk at room temperature
  • 1 batch Cream Cheese Frosting
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Set your oven rack to the middle position. Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C). Spray an 8 inches square baking pan well with nonstick cooking spray and set aside. Alternatively you can line the pan with parchment paper.
  • In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together all the liquid ingredients (brown sugar, oil, applesauce, eggs, vanilla extract, and buttermilk) until fully combined.
  • Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and all the spices over wet ingredients. You can also whisk all the dry ingredients separately in another mixing bowl and then add it to your wet ingredients. Fold using a spatula only till flour disappears into the cake batter.
    Baking times can vary when this cake bakes. So keep an eye on your cake, it is ready when it passes toothpick test. Only a few moist crumbs should come attached with the tooth pick when you prick it in the cake.
    ¾ teaspoon Ground cinnamon, ½ teaspoon Ground Ginger, ⅛ teaspoon Ground Cloves, ⅛ teaspoon Ground Nutmeg, ⅛ teaspoon Ground cardamom, ⅛ teaspoon Ground Star Anise
  • Pour cake batter in pre prepared pan and bake for 35-40 minutes. Baking times can vary when this cake bakes. So keep an eye on your cake, it is ready when it passes toothpick test. Only a few moist crumbs should come attached with the tooth pick when you prick it in the cake.
  • If you notice the top of cake is browning too quickly in the oven, cover it loosely with an aluminium foil. Once baked, take the cake out of oven and allow it to cool in the pan for 5 minutes. Then flip the cake out on a wire rack and allow to cool completely before frosting.

Notes

  1. Spices: If you wish you can skip star anise and cardamom altogether. But they add to the depth of this cake.
  2. Oil: Vegetable oil works best in this batter. though any flavorless oil works. Even refined coconut oil that doesn't have a pronounced taste works. Don't attempt to replace oil with apple sauce or the texture of cake can turn rubbery.
  3. Applesauce: Use unsweetened applesauce in this recipe. You can use mashed banana, pumpkin puree, or canned crushed pineapple instead of applesauce. But remember that the flavor of the cake will change with whichever ingredient you choose.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Slice | Calories: 173kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 2g | Sodium: 156mg | Sugar: 8g