Spiced Pumpkin Apple Cake Recipe

With the air turning crisp and leaves crunching underfoot, this pumpkin apple cake is exactly the cozy creation you didn’t know you needed, all wrapped up in warm spices and autumn vibes.

The Spiced Pumpkin Apple Cake is one of my fall favorites, and it’s a great excuse to use pumpkin puree. Lately, I had been trying to work on cakes that weren’t extremely sweet yet were still really moist and bursting with flavor.

I used rich brown sugar, which might as well be called “fall in a bowl,” in this particular cake, and combined it with a touch of applesauce (as we’re still working our way through our stash of sauce from last apple season). Yes, there was more to the remix, as this cake also included copious (in a good way) amounts of warm spices and walnuts.

Spiced Pumpkin Apple Cake Recipe Ingredients

• Canned Pumpkin Puree: This ingredient is rich in fiber and vitamins A and C, adding moisture and natural sweetness to the cake.
• Granulated Sugar: This provides sweetness and helps in tenderizing the cake, giving it a light and fluffy texture.
• Brown Sugar: Adds a rich, caramel-like sweetness and moisture, enhancing the cake’s flavor.
• Vegetable Oil: Offers essential fats needed for a moist and tender crumb, staying fresh longer.
• Applesauce: Offers a natural sweetness and moisture, reducing the need for excess oil while keeping the cake soft.
• Chopped Apple: Provides natural sweetness, slight tartness, and added fiber, creating a textured bite.

Spiced Pumpkin Apple Cake Recipe Ingredient Quantities

• 1 cup canned pumpkin puree
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup applesauce
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 cup peeled, chopped apple
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)

How to Make this Spiced Pumpkin Apple Cake Recipe

1. Set your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius) and prepare a baking dish that measures 9×13 inches. You may use any pan grease of your preference.

2. In a big mixing basin, blend the canned pumpkin puree, granulated sugar, brown sugar, vegetable oil, applesauce, eggs, and vanilla extract. Stir them to smoothness and a harmonious combination.

3. In a separate bowl, combine all the dry ingredients: all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and ground cloves. These will become your lovely, fragrant spices. Whisk them together until they’re thoroughly combined, then set the bowl aside.

4. Slowly mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients; so that they are properly combined, use a utensil that can thoroughly mix and incorporate the two seemingly disparate mixtures. Do not overmix.

5. Carefully combine the diced apple and nuts, if using, until uniformly mixed throughout the batter.

6. Transfer the batter to the prepared pan, and scrape it out evenly across the bottom with a spatula.

7. In the preheated oven, bake for 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick can be inserted into the center of the cake and comes out clean.

8. Take the cake from the oven and allow it to cool in the pan on a wire rack for about 15 minutes.

9. Common to many recipes for cakes, once your cake has cooled, you may serve it directly from the pan or as a more impressive dessert, transfer it to a serving platter. This latter option allows for a better presentation, even if the former is quite convenient.

10. If you want to make it extra decadent, you can dust the top with powdered sugar or serve it with a good dollop of whipped cream. Either would add a nice touch and make this gorgeous, deep, dark cake even more irresistible. Enjoy!

Spiced Pumpkin Apple Cake Recipe Equipment Needed

1. Oven
2. 9×13 inch baking dish
3. Pastry brush or spray bottle (for pan grease)
4. Large mixing bowl
5. Medium mixing bowl
6. Whisk
7. Spoon or spatula for mixing
8. Spatula (for scraping batter)
9. Knife (for dicing apple)
10. Measuring cups
11. Measuring spoons
12. Wire cooling rack
13. Toothpick (for testing doneness)

FAQ

• Can I use fresh pumpkin instead of canned pumpkin puree?确实，您可以使用新鲜的南瓜泥。但一定要保证其足够熟烂，并且排干多余水分，才能与罐装南瓜的稠度相媲美。
• Can I substitute applesauce in the recipe?The addition of applesauce gives moisture and a mild apple taste. If necessary, you can substitute it with more vegetable oil or yogurt, and the result will be approximately the same.
• What type of apples work best for this cake?Cultivars that are firm, such as Granny Smith or Honeycrisp, work well because they hold their shape and provide a nice contrast of flavors.
• Can I make this cake gluten-free?You can use a gluten-free flour blend in a 1:1 ratio to replace the all-purpose flour, but the texture could be different.
• What can I use instead of walnuts or pecans?Nuts like almonds can be used instead, or even dried fruits like raisins, which offer a better texture.
• How should I store the cake?Keep in an airtight container at room temperature for no more than 3 days, or stash it in the refrigerator for no more than a week if you want it to taste fresh.

Spiced Pumpkin Apple Cake Recipe Substitutions and Variations

You can use homemade pumpkin puree in equal amounts instead of using canned pumpkin puree.
For a more healthful choice, use coconut sugar instead of the granulated sugar in a 1:1 ratio.
An equal amount of melted butter or melted coconut oil can take the place of vegetable oil.
Mashed banana or yogurt can be used in place of applesauce in a 1:1 ratio for a totally different flavor profile.
In the absence of brown sugar, substitute it with an equal amount of white sugar mixed with a teaspoon of molasses.

Pro Tips

1. Alternate Flour: For a nutty flavor and added texture, consider substituting a portion of the all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour or almond flour. This will add complexity to the cake’s taste profile.