Description
This moist and flavorful apple butter cake is spiced with apple pie seasoning and made extra tender with grated apple and rich apple butter. Finished with a luscious brown butter frosting, it’s the perfect fall dessert for gatherings or cozy nights in.
Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon apple pie spice
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1 cup lightly packed brown sugar
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 3 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups homemade apple butter
- 1 cup grated apple (from about 1 large or 2 small peeled apples)
- 1 batch brown butter frosting
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Spray a 9×13-inch cake pan with cooking spray and line with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, apple pie spice, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together brown sugar, granulated sugar, and vegetable oil until combined. Add eggs and vanilla extract, whisking until fully incorporated.
- Using a spatula, add one-third of the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Stir to combine, then add half of the apple butter. Repeat, ending with the final third of the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined.
- Fold in the grated apple.
- Pour batter into the prepared cake pan and smooth the top evenly.
- Bake for 40–45 minutes, or until a tester inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Allow the cake to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack for about 1 hour.
- Once cooled, frost with brown butter frosting or your frosting of choice.
Notes
- If you prefer a lighter frosting layer, use only half of the brown butter frosting batch and store or freeze the rest for later use.
- Use homemade or store-bought apple butter—either works well for this recipe.
- Store the frosted cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for longer freshness.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 684 kcal
- Sugar: 75 g
- Sodium: 158 mg
- Fat: 33 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 95 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 79 mg
