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Apple Spice Cake with Brown Sugar Icing Recipe

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4.2 from 4 reviews

This moist and flavorful Apple Spice Cake combines a blend of warm spices with fresh grated honey crispy apples for a cozy, comforting dessert. Topped with a rich brown sugar icing, this cake is perfect for fall or any time you crave a sweet, spiced treat.

  • Author: Chef
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 35-40 minutes
  • Total Time: 50 minutes
  • Yield: 9 servings
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Cake:

  • 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour, spooned and leveled
  • 1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
  • 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
  • 1/2 tsp. ground allspice
  • 1/8 tsp. ground cloves
  • 2/3 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed (light or dark)
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup sour cream, room temperature
  • 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
  • 2-3 large honey crispy apples, grated (~1 1/2 cups, skin on optional)

Brown Sugar Icing:

  • 1/4 cup salted butter
  • 1/2 cup dark brown sugar, packed
  • 2 Tbsp. heavy cream
  • 1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
  • 1 cup powdered sugar, sifted

Instructions

  1. Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 9×9-inch light colored nonstick pan with parchment paper and set aside to ensure easy removal of the cake.
  2. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the all purpose flour, baking soda, salt, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, ground nutmeg, ground allspice, and ground cloves until well combined.
  3. Mix Wet Ingredients: In another mixing bowl, whisk the vegetable oil, eggs, brown sugar, granulated sugar, sour cream, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy.
  4. Combine Wet and Dry: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and gently fold together just until combined, being careful not to overmix to keep the cake tender.
  5. Add Grated Apples: Fold in the grated honey crispy apples evenly throughout the batter to add moisture and fresh apple flavor.
  6. Pour Batter into Pan: Transfer the cake batter into the prepared 9×9-inch pan, smoothing the top for even baking.
  7. Bake the Cake: Bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove from oven and allow the cake to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool further.
  8. Make Brown Sugar Icing: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the salted butter, dark brown sugar, and heavy cream together. Whisk continuously until the mixture is combined and just reaches a gentle boil.
  9. Finish Icing: Remove the saucepan from heat. Whisk in the vanilla extract and sifted powdered sugar until smooth and glossy.
  10. Ice the Cake: Pour the warm brown sugar icing evenly over the cake. The cake should be slightly warm so the icing melts in beautifully.
  11. Serve: Slice the cake and enjoy it warm for the best flavor and texture.

Notes

  • Honey crispy apples are preferred for optimal sweetness and texture, but other sweet apple varieties can be used.
  • Keep the skin on the apples for extra fiber and color.
  • The icing can be poured warm for a glaze effect or cooled slightly for a thicker topping.
  • Store any leftovers wrapped tightly at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerate for up to 5 days.
  • You can substitute sour cream with Greek yogurt if needed, but it may slightly alter texture.

Find it online: https://cheftinaskitchen.com/apple-spice-cake-with-brown-sugar-icing-recipe/