Classic Homemade Applesauce Cake Recipe That Melts in Your Mouth

Moist and tender, this Old Fashioned Applesauce Cake is a classic made for snacking. Packed with raisins and walnuts for texture, and subtly brightened with lemon zest and cinnamon, it’s a perfect companion to coffee or tea.

Kate’s Recipe Rundown

I had several recipes bookmarked for an Old Fashioned Applesauce Cake, but this one stopped me from testing any more. It’s a real winner.

Soft and moist, this cake features tender raisins and crunchy walnuts. The cinnamon and lemon zest enhance the applesauce without overpowering it. The recipe comes from a 1970s cookbook, “A Taste of South Carolina.”

I consider this a snacking cake—sweet but not cloying, and ideal with coffee or tea.

I especially love this cake in fall and winter when apple flavors feel most seasonal. A few other classic apple recipes I enjoy:

1. Apple Cinnamon Bread
2. Old Fashioned Apple Cake
3. Pumpkin Apple Bread
4. Apple Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Enjoy! Kate

What makes this the best old fashioned applesauce cake?

• Uses a generous 1½ cups unsweetened applesauce in an 8×8-inch pan so you can actually taste the applesauce.
• Perfect size for a smaller batch — an 8×8 pan yields a conveniently sized snacking cake.
• Sweet without being too sweet: this recipe uses far less sugar than many vintage versions.
• No frosting is needed — the applesauce flavor shines through on its own.
• Lemon zest adds a subtle brightness that complements applesauce, raisins, and walnuts.

Ingredients

Note: Check the recipe card below for exact amounts and full instructions.

• Use unsweetened applesauce (homemade or store-bought) so the cake isn’t overly sweet.
• Cinnamon enhances the apple flavor and warms the cake.
• Lemon zest adds a light, bright note without making the cake taste lemony.
• Walnuts and raisins give pleasant texture; pecans can be substituted or omit nuts for a nut-free version.

More old fashioned cakes

Some other vintage-style cakes I love:

• Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
• Old Fashioned Jell-O Cake
• Pistachio Cake with Pudding Mix
• Chocolate Wacky Cake (also good in an 8×8 pan)
• Dr. Pepper Cake
• Chocolate Chip Zucchini Cake
• Punch Bowl Cake

Recipe

Easy Old Fashioned Applesauce Cake

This classic applesauce cake with raisins and walnuts is a perfect snacking cake—serve with coffee or tea.

Prep Time: 10 mins

Cook Time: 45 mins

Total Time: 55 mins

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Servings: 9

Calories: 356 kcal

Ingredients

• 1¾ cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup butter, softened (1 stick)
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1 egg
• 1½ cups unsweetened applesauce
• ½ cup raisins
• ½ cup walnuts

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• Grease an 8×8-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.
• In another bowl, cream the butter, sugar, and lemon zest until light and fluffy.
• Add the egg and beat until smooth.
• Stir in the applesauce, then add the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
• Fold in the raisins and walnuts.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake 45–50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Notes

Applesauce: Homemade or store-bought unsweetened applesauce works best. If you use sweetened applesauce, reduce the sugar by 1/4 cup.

Storage: Store leftovers tightly covered at room temperature for up to one week.

Freezing: Freeze for up to 3 months; thaw overnight at room temperature.

Nutrition

Calories: 356 kcal · Carbohydrates: 53 g · Protein: 5 g · Fat: 15 g · Sugar: 26 g

Did You Make This Recipe? Please leave a star rating and comment!

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