Ingredients:

  • 3 medium apples, peeled, cored, and chopped (approx. 400g / 14 oz)
  • 1/4 cup water (60ml / 2 fl oz)
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice (15ml / 0.5 fl oz)
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon (1g)
  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour (190g / 6.7 oz), plus more for dusting the pan
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda (5g)
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder (2.5g)
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (3g)
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg (1.5g)
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cloves (0.8g)
  • ¼ teaspoon salt (1.5g)
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, softened (113g / 4 oz)
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar (150g / 5.3 oz)
  • 2 large eggs (approx. 100g / 3.5 oz)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (5ml / 0.17 fl oz)
  • 1 cup applesauce (240g / 8.5 oz) (from above or store-bought, unsweetened)
  • 1 cup confectioners' sugar (120g / 4.2 oz)
  • 2-3 tablespoons milk or lemon juice (30-45ml / 1-1.5 fl oz)

Instructions:

  1. Make the applesauce: Combine chopped apples, water, lemon juice, and cinnamon in a saucepan. Simmer until apples are soft. Mash and let cool completely. (Or use store-bought unsweetened applesauce.)
  2. Preheat oven and prepare pan: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9-inch round cake pan.
  3. Whisk dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt.
  4. Cream butter and sugar: In a large bowl, cream together softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
  5. Beat in eggs and vanilla: Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla extract.
  6. Alternate dry and wet ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, alternating with the applesauce, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined. Do not overmix.
  7. Pour into pan and bake: Pour batter into the prepared cake pan and spread evenly.
  8. Bake: Bake for 45-55 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean (or with just a few moist crumbs).
  9. Cool: Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes before inverting it onto a wire rack to cool completely.
  10. Glaze (optional): Whisk together confectioners' sugar and milk (or lemon juice) until smooth. Drizzle over the cooled cake.