Serves a Crowd

Sour Cream Applesauce Cake

September 24, 2018
4
3 Ratings
Photo by Hannah Currie
  • Prep time 30 minutes
  • Cook time 35 minutes
  • Serves 18-20
Author Notes

Inspired by a vintage Betty Crocker recipe and design, lemon zest and sour cream take this apple cake to new heights. Top with luscious Honey Cream Cheese frosting and doily-stenciled cinnamon for a festive fall cake that's sure to please and impress. —Hannah Currie

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • Applesauce Cake
  • 2 1/2 cups flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon cloves
  • 1/2 teaspoon allspice
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons lemon zest
  • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
  • 1 1/2 cups unsweetened applesauce
  • Honey Cream Cheese Frosting
  • 1- 8 oz. packets cream cheese, softened
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
  • 3 tablespoons honey
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 2 tablespoons cinnamon, for topping
Directions
  1. Applesauce Cake
  2. Preheat oven to 350°. Grease a 9 x 13 pan and line with parchment paper.
  3. In a large bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, cloves, and allspice.
  4. In another bowl, whisk together sugar, vegetable oil, sour cream, egg, and lemon zest.
  5. Mix wet ingredients into dry, then stir in applesauce and walnuts until just combined.
  6. Pour into greased and lined pan, and bake for about 35 minutes (or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean).
  1. Honey Cream Cheese Frosting
  2. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together cream cheese and honey until combined.
  3. Slowly add powdered sugar, then honey and beat until the mixture is smooth.
  4. Spread onto cooled cake. Lightly place a paper doily over top of cake and sift cinnamon over the top. Lift doily straight up and off of the cake.

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • Vivian
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2 Reviews

Vivian January 12, 2024
Well in the icing recipe there is no direction of what to do with the 4T butter or the ginger, and you add the honey twice. I left out the butter, as I have often made an icing without it, but did add the ginger.
 
8bo|{|WWAqCO January 16, 2022
This is a saver. Loved the flavor, texture and finished appearance. Wouldn't change anything.