Apple Sheet Cake With Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
- Unsalted butter
for greasing the pan
- 2 cups/255 grams all-purpose flour
plus more for preparing the pan
- 3/4 cup/165 grams light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 cups/480 milliliters unsweetened applesauce
- 3/4 cup/180 milliliters neutral oil
such as canola or grapeseed
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 8 ounces/230 grams cream cheese
at room temperature
- 1/4 cup/65 grams unsalted butter
at room temperature, 1/2 stick
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1 cup/100 grams confectioners’ sugar
Directions
- 1
Prepare the cake: Heat oven to 350 degrees and set a rack in the center. Butter and flour a 9-by-13-inch glass or light colored metal baking pan.
- 2
In a large bowl, whisk together the light brown sugar and eggs until pale and foamy. Add the applesauce, oil, spices and salt. Whisk to combine.
- 3
Add the 2 cups flour, baking powder and baking soda, and whisk until well combined.
- 4
Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smooth the top, and firmly tap the pan on a countertop a few times to release air bubbles. Bake the cake until golden and puffed, and a tester inserted into the center comes out clean, 30 to 40 minutes. Cool the cake in the pan on a rack.
- 5
When the cake is cool, make the frosting: Add the cream cheese, butter and cinnamon to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium-high until smooth, stopping the mixer occasionally to scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl. Turn the speed to low, and slowly add the confectioners’ sugar. Mix until the sugar is moistened, then turn the speed up to medium-high and whip until smooth and fluffy.
- 6
Spread the frosting over the cooled cake and serve. Store any leftovers in the refrigerator, covered, for up to 3 days.
Apple Sheet Cake With Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting
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About this Recipe
Craving the cozy, comforting flavors of autumn without spending hours in the kitchen? This Apple Sheet Cake with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting is your answer, delivering a wonderfully spiced, effortlessly elegant dessert that comes together surprisingly fast.This sheet cake stands out for its sheer simplicity and the thoughtful combination of ingredients that ensure a moist, flavorful outcome. The batter comes together quickly, and baking in a sheet pan means even cooking and easy serving. The secret to its vibrant taste lies in using fresh cinnamon for both the cake and the fluffy cream cheese frosting, which truly elevates the warm, inviting spice profile.Get ready for a truly delightful dessert experience. The cake itself is incredibly tender and moist, infused with a symphony of warm spices like cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, and cloves, all balanced by the natural sweetness and moisture from applesauce. It's a comforting yet sophisticated flavor profile that evokes crisp fall days. The cake is then crowned with a luscious, tangy cream cheese frosting, generously flavored with cinnamon, providing a perfect counterpoint to the spiced cake. While the frosting provides a modest but perfectly balanced layer, it's enough to elevate each bite.This versatile apple sheet cake offers easy ways to customize it to your taste. You can easily adjust the intensity of the spices, adding a little more or less ground cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, or cloves to match your preference for a bolder or milder flavor. If you're a true frosting enthusiast, consider doubling the cream cheese frosting recipe to achieve a more lavish topping. You could also experiment with a different neutral oil, such as grapeseed, if canola isn't your preference.Perfect for everything from a cozy family dessert to a potluck or holiday gathering, this Apple Sheet Cake with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting is a crowd-pleaser. Its simple presentation, dressed up with a few swoops of its fluffy topping, makes it an inviting centerpiece.