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Super Moist Spice Cake with Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

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4 from 6 reviews

This Super Moist Spice Cake is a delightfully flavorful and tender dessert featuring warm spices like cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves, combined with shredded apple for natural moisture and texture. The cake is topped with a luscious brown butter cream cheese frosting that adds a rich, nutty finish. Perfect for gatherings or cozy nights, it serves 12 and takes about 5 hours including cooling time.

  • Author: Chef
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 40 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 hours (including cooling and refrigeration time)
  • Yield: 12 servings
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

Cake Ingredients

  • 2 and 1/2 cups (313g) all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled)
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 and 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1 cup (240ml) vegetable oil
  • 1 and 3/4 cup (350g) packed light or dark brown sugar
  • 1 cup (240g) unsweetened applesauce
  • 4 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 1 cup (150g) shredded apple (or shredded carrot/zucchini)
  • Optional: 1 Tablespoon (21g) unsulphured or dark molasses (not blackstrap)

Frosting Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup (4 Tbsp; 56g) unsalted butter, cut into 4 slices
  • 8 ounces (226g) full-fat brick cream cheese, softened to room temperature
  • 2 and 1/2 cups (300g) confectioners’ sugar
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • Pinch of salt
  • Optional garnish: sprinkle of ground cinnamon or nutmeg

Instructions

  1. Prepare Oven and Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C) and grease a 9×13-inch glass baking pan well to prevent sticking.
  2. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves until evenly combined. Set aside.
  3. Combine Wet Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk the vegetable oil, light or dark brown sugar, unsweetened applesauce, eggs, vanilla extract, and molasses if using, until well blended.
  4. Form Batter: Pour the wet ingredients into the bowl with the dry ingredients and whisk just until combined; some small lumps are fine. Gently fold in the shredded apple until evenly distributed.
  5. Bake Cake: Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan. Bake for 38–40 minutes. Check doneness by inserting a toothpick in the center; it should come out clean with a few moist crumbs. If the top browns too quickly, cover loosely with foil around 25 minutes into baking.
  6. Cool Cake: Remove from oven and set pan on a cooling rack. Allow cake to cool completely before frosting.
  7. Brown the Butter: Place butter slices in a light-colored skillet over medium heat. Stir constantly as the butter melts and foams. After 5–7 minutes, when brown specks form and a nutty aroma emerges, remove from heat and immediately pour into a medium heatproof bowl including the browned bits. Let cool 10 minutes, then refrigerate until solidified.
  8. Make Frosting: Using a mixer with a paddle attachment, beat the solidified brown butter on high speed until creamy. Add softened cream cheese and beat until smooth. Scrape bowl sides as needed. Add confectioners’ sugar, vanilla, and salt; start mixing on low speed for 30 seconds then increase to high speed and beat for 2 minutes until fluffy.
  9. Frost the Cake: Spread the frosting evenly over the cooled cake. Optionally, sprinkle the top with cinnamon or nutmeg for garnish.
  10. Chill Before Serving: Refrigerate the frosted cake for 30 minutes to set the frosting, which also makes slicing easier.
  11. Store Leftovers: Cover leftover cake tightly and refrigerate for up to 5 days to maintain freshness.

Notes

  • You can substitute shredded apple with shredded carrot or zucchini for variation in texture and flavor.
  • A 9×13-inch glass baking pan is recommended, but if using different sizes, baking time may need adjustment.
  • Using a light-colored pan helps monitor butter browning more accurately.
  • If the cake top browns before the center is baked, covering with foil prevents over-browning.
  • Refrigerate the cake after frosting to help the frosting set and ease slicing.

Find it online: https://cheftinaskitchen.com/super-moist-spice-cake-with-brown-butter-cream-cheese-frosting-recipe/