Christmas

Great-Grandma Schanzenbacher's Applesauce Cake

by:
December 10, 2014
4
3 Ratings
  • Makes 1 cake
Author Notes

Christmas just isn't Christmas without this recipe. It's been a family tradition since 1916. The recipe has not changed much over time. The only documented change is the amount of sugar has been reduced. The original recipe called for 1 1/2 cups of brown sugar and granulated sugar, but now only 1 cup is used.

The recipe also doesn't specify the type or size of pan. I typically use a bundt pan. —RogersParkCook

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 3 cups flour
  • 1 1/2 cups applesauce
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1/2 cup raisins
  • 1/2 cup nuts (recipe doesn't specify type. I use walnuts)
  • 1 tablespoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon cloves
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda dissolved in 2 tablespoons of warm water
  • 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 pinch salt
Directions
  1. Cream butter and sugar
  2. Add applesauce and baking soda mixture
  3. In other bowl, put in flour, pinch of salt, and baking powder.
  4. Add spices to dry ingredients.
  5. Add dry ingredients into moist mix in part
  6. Last, add raisins and nuts and stir together.
  7. Bake at 325 degrees for 50-60 minutes
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3 Reviews

emcsull
emcsull January 30, 2017
are the cloves whole ?
 
AntoniaJames
AntoniaJames December 16, 2014
This looks so much like the applesauce cake I made, often, as a young girl. (All those cloves! I can smell them now.) I haven't made one since I went off to college. Thank you for posting this recipe. I plan to make this when my sons are home for the holidays next week. I know they will love it. ;o)
 
RogersParkCook
RogersParkCook December 20, 2014
Thank you for this. I hope the cake will bring back great memories of baking this cake in your childhood.