Name: Applesauce Cake Layers
Total time: 3 h 15 min
Yield: Makes two 9-inch or three 8-inch cake layers
Cuisine: US & Canada
Ingredients: 2 1/4 cups (11¼ ounces/319 grams) all-purpose flour; 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda; 1 teaspoon salt; 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg; 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves; 1 1/4 cups applesauce; 1 cup (7 ounces/198 grams) sugar; 16 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly; 1/4 cup apple cider; 2 large eggs; 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Why This Recipe Works

A combination of applesauce and apple cider gives this cake deep apple flavor and plenty of moisture. We opted for melted butter rather than vegetable oil for the toasty flavors it adds.

Before You Begin

Be sure to use regular applesauce in this recipe, not unsweetened.

Instructions

Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 325 degrees. Grease two 9-inch or three 8-inch round cake pans and line with parchment paper.

Whisk flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves together in medium bowl; set aside. Whisk applesauce, sugar, melted butter, cider, eggs, and vanilla together in large bowl. Add flour mixture to applesauce mixture and whisk until just combined.

Divide batter evenly between prepared pans and smooth tops with rubber spatula. Bake until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes (for 8-inch pans) or 35 to 40 minutes (for 9-inch pans), rotating pans halfway through baking. Let cakes cool in pans on wire rack for 15 minutes. Remove cakes from pans, discarding parchment, and let cool completely on rack, about 2 hours.