Amish Applesauce Cake – A Super Moist Applesauce Cake Recipe
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Amish Applesauce Cake is a super moist applesauce cake recipe with raisins and walnuts. This applesauce cake is the best old fashioned recipe I’ve been able to find. Follow these instructions for making a from scratch applesauce cake.
Amish Applesauce Cake
I love anything with apples or applesauce. Apple Crisp, Caramel Apple Cake, Cinnamon Apples, Apple Pie Bars, and the list goes on and on. Well now, I have a new favorite apple recipe called Amish Applesauce Cake (also known as Old Fashioned Apple Cake).
This is a super moist applesauce cake. Plus, it’s full of chopped walnuts and raisins. It also has ground cinnamon, nutmeg and clove, my favorite combination of fall spices. Your kitchen will smell divine as you bake this up.
Old Fashioned Applesauce Cake Recipe
I don’t know who Bunny is, but I do know that she’s from West Virginia and that her amazing old fashioned apple cake is to die for. Bunny’s Applesauce Cake recipe was published in an old cook book called Heavenly Food From Our Holy Mountain. I want to be Bunny’s friend so that I can eat this cake all the time.
I love how it’s baked in a Tube Pan, not to be confused with a Bundt Pan; however, you could use one pan for the other, but just be prepared to watch the cake at end since the baking time could vary.
Applesauce Cake Recipe From Scratch
I love homey old recipes like this one. Making homemade desserts like this from scratch applesauce cake is really easier than it might seem.
- It’s basically just a few steps.
- Cream the sugar, shortening and egg.
- Sift (or don’t sift if you’re lazy) the dry ingredients.
- Add some baking soda to boiling water.
- Mix it all together.
- Grease and flour the pan.
- Pour it in.
- Bake.
It’s really not all that complicated, but the result is delicious, and the apple flavor is well worth the effort.
Amish Applesauce Cake Ingredient List
- All Purpose Flour
- Salt
- Ground Cloves
- Nutmeg
- Cinnamon
- Shortening
- Granulated Sugar
- Large Egg
- Applesauce, unsweetened (can use sweetened if you prefer)
- Baking Soda
- Boiling Water
- Raisins
- Chopped Walnuts
How to Make A Super Moist Applesauce Cake
Step by Step Instructions
- Preheat oven. Grease and flour a tube pan on all sides.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream shortening, sugar and egg using a stand mixer or an electric mixer.
- Sift together flour, salt, nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves.
- Boil water; whisk in baking soda until dissolved.
- Stir in applesauce to the creamed mixture; then alternate between the wet ingredients and dry ingredients until everything is incorporated.
- Add raisins and chopped walnuts; stir until combined evenly.
- Pour into prepared baking pan.
- Bake until toothpick comes out clean.
- Let cool on a wire rack.
For the full ingredient amounts and recipe steps for Amish Applesauce Cake, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Recipe FAQs
- Be sure to grease (with shortening) and flour all sides of the tube pan. Lining the bottom of the pan with parchment paper makes it easier to remove from the pan too.
- Looking for a shortcut applesauce cake using a cake mix? Try this recipe!
- This applesauce cake recipe freezes great. Thaw at room temperature.
What is the purpose of using applesauce in baking?
Not only does applesauce lend to a nice apple flavor, but it also gives an amazing moist texture to baked goods. When applesauce replaces oil or butter in a recipe, it also results in a lower fat content, making it more healthy.
Recipe Variations
- A Bundt pan could be used instead of a Tube Pan, but be sure to watch the cook time because it could change.
- Pecans are a suitable substitute for chopped walnuts, if desired.
- I prefer unsweetened applesauce; however, you can use whatever you have on hand.
- Dark or golden raisins work great. Check out our Amazon Store for some of our favorite ingredients and kitchen items.
- Add other fall spices such as ground ginger or allspice.
- If desired, frost with a cream cheese frosting.
Old Fashioned Cake Recipes
Old Fashioned Apple Pudding Cake
Old Fashioned Date Pudding Cake
Easy Recipes using Cake Mix
Have a boxed cake mix in your pantry that you’d rather use to make an easy dessert? While we love an old-fashioned, from scratch cake recipe, we also never shy away from using shortcut ingredients like a cake mix.
- Triple Chocolate Cake
- Grandma’s Boston Cream Cake
- Lemon Glazed Blueberry Cake
- Red Velvet Cake Mix Brownies
- Pumpkin Crunch Dessert
- Yellow Cake Mix Gooey Bars
Equipment
If you don’t have a tube pan, find one here on our Amazon Store.
Amish Applesauce Cake – A Super Moist Applesauce Cake Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup shortening (Crisco)
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 egg (large)
- 2 1/2 cups flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 1/2 cups applesauce unsweetened
- 1/2 cup boiling water
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 cup raisins
- 1 cup chopped walnuts
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Grease and flour a 9.5-inch Tube Pan.
- Whisk baking soda into boiling water until dissolved.
- Sift together flour, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves.
- Cream shortening, sugar and egg.
- Stir in applesauce to creamed mixture; then add water/soda mixture and dry ingredients alternately until everything is smooth and incorporated.
- Stir in raisins and walnuts.
- Pour into prepared Tube Pan. Bake for 60 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Notes
- I prefer unsweetened applesauce; however, you can use whatever you have on hand.
- Dark or golden raisins work great.
- Be sure to grease (with shortening) and flour all sides of the tube pan. Lining the bottom of the pan with parchment paper makes it easier to remove from the pan too.
- A Bundt pan could be used instead of a Tube Pan, but be sure to watch the cook time because it could change.
- Pecans are a suitable substitute for chopped walnuts, if desired.
- Looking for a shortcut applesauce cake using a cake mix? Try this recipe!
- Calorie counts, carb counts and nutritional information can vary greatly depending on the products used. The nutritional information below is auto-calculated and should NOT be used for specific dietary needs.
Nutrition
Can I use butter instead of shortening? This recipe sounds delicious.
We haven’t substitute butter for shortening in this recipe but in general you should be able to swap butter for shortening in a 1:1 ratio. It might alter the consistency a bit but shouldn’t be too noticeable!
I almost didn’t try this recipe as there were no reviews from others who tried it, (I really rely on them before trying something new), but I’m so glad I did. I lost my old tried and true applesauce cake recipe, so I decided gave this a try. And? It’s perfect! Moist, nice crumb and spice! I used unsweetened butter, didn’t have as many walnuts, and added the raisins to the baking soda/hot water to plump them a bit before adding to the batter. I’ll definitely be coming back to this! Thank you, Megan, for sharing!
I’m not much of a cook but this sounds so yummy plus easy and great for a community luncheon. I don’t have a tube ot bundle pan: any possibility that it can be baked in a regular 9×13 pan? Thanks
We haven’t tried it in a 9 x 13 pan so we aren’t sure about cooking time.
I’ve tried this recipe with dried fruit,I should have soaked them or baked them an then tossed them in flour so the fruit doesn’t sink. That’s an oldie from my aunt when she made fruit cakes.
I made this cake twice. it was delicious and mouth watering. I used 2 eggs and Cherries with raisins. Tossed my raisins and Cherries in flour. Baked in a 9×12 pan. 😋 yummy
How long do I bake in a Bundt pan?
We’d suggest starting at 45 minutes and checking it. Should be between 45-60 minutes. Be sure to test with a toothpick or cake tester before taking out.
apple sauce sweetened or not ?
We use unsweetened but you can use whatever you have on hand!
I am certainly going to try this. I’m going to use apple sauce with cinnamon and cut back a tad on the sugar. I love cinnamon and it is good for the heart. And will put in a Bundt pan.
What size tube pan can I use?
9.5-inch tube pan
I have not tried the recipe yet. I just need to know what size tube pan to use?
We use a 9.5-inch tube pan.
This almost sounds like my Mothers “Raisin Cake” she use to make for our whole family. She would add candied fruit For a Christmas fruit cake. I remember her cooking part of it on the stove but I don’t remember all of it . She did add the raisins,and candied fruit to the pot on the stove and would let it cook. The only difference between your cake and hers in appearance is hers was darker in color. I believe she used brown sugar instead of white. I’m going to make yours and see how close it is to hers. I sure do wish I paid more attention to what she was doing.lol
Ma G, I believe your mother made “Poor Man’s Cake”.