Applesauce Raisin Cake

By
Peggy Trowbridge Filippone
Peggy Trowbridge Filippone
Peggy Trowbridge Filippone is a writer who develops approachable recipes for home cooks. Her recipes range from Grandma’s favorites to the latest food trends.
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Updated on 03/15/22
Applesauce raisin cake

The Spruce / Peggy Trowbridge Filippone

Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 35 mins
Total: 55 mins
Servings: 12 to 16 servings
Yield: 1 cake

Luscious spice brings back childhood memories. This one is not overly spicy. The applesauce makes it moist, the raisins provide flavorful bits of sweetness, and the cream cheese frosting lends a bit of decadence. There may appear to be a lot of ingredients, but it goes together quickly all in one bowl, except for the frosting. If you wish, you can make the cake the day before and frost later.

Ingredients

For the Cake:

  • 1 cup raisins

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour

  • 1 1/2 cups sugar

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

  • 1 tablespoon cocoa powder

  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

  • 1 teaspoon allspice

  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil

  • 1 cup applesauce

  • 2 large eggs, at room temperature, lightly beaten

For the Frosting:

  • 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature

  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

  • 2 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar

  • 1 tablespoon lime juice, or lemon juice

  • Milk, or cream, as needed, optional

Steps to Make It

Make the Cake

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Pour hot water over raisins to cover. Let steep until plump, about 15 minutes, then drain thoroughly.

  3. Preheat oven to 350 F.

  4. Line a 9 x 13-inch pan with nonstick foil.

  5. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking soda, cocoa, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg, and allspice.

  6. Make a well in the center. Add oil, applesauce and beaten eggs and mix well.

  7. Fold in plumped raisins.

  8. Pour into pan and bake for 30 to 35 minutes.

  9. Cool to room temperature.

Make the Frosting

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. In a small bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth.

  3. Add vanilla extract and confectioners' sugar.

  4. Blend in lime juice. If the frosting is too thick, add just enough milk or cream, a few drops at a time, to make frosting smooth and easy to spread.

  5. Smooth frosting on top of cooled cake. Refrigerate the cake for at least 1 hour to set the frosting.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
358 Calories
13g Fat
60g Carbs
4g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 12 to 16
Amount per serving
Calories 358
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 13g 16%
Saturated Fat 4g 18%
Cholesterol 38mg 13%
Sodium 306mg 13%
Total Carbohydrate 60g 22%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Total Sugars 44g
Protein 4g
Vitamin C 1mg 4%
Calcium 28mg 2%
Iron 1mg 7%
Potassium 133mg 3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)