Apple Spice Sheet Cake is a soft applesauce cake that is baked in a half sheet pan and frosted with a sweet cinnamon cream cheese frosting.
The (Half) Sheet Pan
I use a half sheet pan for this cake. A half sheet pan gives you a soft thinner cake and once it’s frosted, it is the perfect cake-to-frosting ratio (in my opinion).
A half sheet pan looks like a jelly roll pan but the measurements are a bit different.
The jelly roll pan is typically a sheet pan or baking sheet that is rimmed and measures about 10×15 inches. While a half sheet pan (what I always use- I don’t even own a jelly roll pan) is rimmed and measures about 13×18 inches.
What if I only have a jelly roll pan?
If you don’t know if your pan is a half sheet pan or jelly roll pan, measure it.
If all you have is a a jelly roll pan, you can use it. Just do not add all of the cake batter to the pan. A jelly roll pan is a bit smaller than a half sheet pan so if you put all of the cake batter in the pan, it may bake over the sides and make a mess in your oven.
So if you use a jelly roll pan, use less batter. You can see in the photos below how much the batter should fill up the pan. It should be about half (or a little less) full, leaving room for it to rise as it bakes.
Can I use a 9×13 baking dish/pan?
You can use a 9×13 baking dish/pan. The cake will be thicker since it is in a smaller pan.
You will need to adjust the oven temperature and the baking times because it will be a thicker cake.
Lower the baking temperature to 350 degrees Fahrenheit so it can cook a bit slower and get done in the center.
Bake the cake for 25-30 minutes (may even need 35 minutes). Every oven cooks different so watch the cake. Start checking it at 25 minutes.
The applesauce cake will be done when the top of the cake gets golden brown and the edges start to pull away from the sides of the pan.
Stick a toothpick in the very center and it is done when it comes out with just a bit of crumb on the toothpick.
What makes this cake an Apple Spice Cake?
Sheet Pan Apple Spice Cake is a soft sheet cake with subtle sweet apple flavor and a blend of spices that make this the perfect apple spice sheet cake recipe.
I do not use real fresh apples for this spice cake. I use unsweetened applesauce. It is easy and every bit as good as fresh homemade applesauce. Make sure the applesauce you use is unsweetened.
Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting
The frosting for this apple cake is the perfect frosting that pairs with the sweetness and spices of the soft cake.
I use my Homemade Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe and add a little bit of cinnamon. You can adjust the amount of cinnamon to your liking.
Make sure the cream cheese and butter is super soft or there will be lumps in your frosting. If you look close in my photos you can see a few lumps-oops! Even with lumps, the frosting is divine!
Mix all of the ingredients together. You can add as much powdered sugar as you want if you want the frosting more sweet and thicker. Adjust the cinnamon to your liking as well.
Making the Apple Spice Cake
You can make this cake in a bowl and mix it all by hand. I use my stand mixer with the paddle attachment.
First, add your softened butter and white sugar to the mixing bowl. Make sure the butter is soft and at room temperature so it mixes well.
Cream the butter and sugar together.
Next, add your eggs and mix well.
Then, add your vanilla and sour cream and mix well.
After the sour cream and vanilla are mixed well, add your flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Mix well.
Once the dry ingredients are mixed well add the spices; ground cinnamon, ground ginger, ground nutmeg, and ground cloves. Mix well again.
Finally, add the applesauce and mix well.
Baking the Apple Spice Sheet Cake
Pour the cake batter into your greased half sheet pan. (Or the pan you are using – see above for more about the pan options.)
Bake the cake for 15-20 minutes. My oven cooks my cake in about 16 to 18 minutes.
The cake will pull away from the edges and the top will be golden brown when it is done. You can also poke a toothpick in the center of the cake and it should come out with just a bit of cake crumb on it.
Make your frosting while the cake bakes.
Let the cake cool before frosting.
Frost the apple spice sheet cake gently. Don’t press hard or go back and forth (forward strokes only) or the soft top of the cake will crumble and come off as you frost it.
Cut the apple cake into desired sized pieces. I can get 20 pieces out of a half sheetcake, but you can get more if you cut the pieces smaller.
For some more delicious sheet cake recipes and sheet pan treats, try my Banana Bars with cream cheese frosting, Pumpkin Bars with cream cheese frosting, Lemon Sheet Cake, Carrot Cake Bars (Sheet Cake), Texas Sheet Cake, Peanut Butter Fingers or my Sheet Pan Brownies with Cream Cheese Frosting.
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Apple Spice Sheet Cake
Equipment
- half sheet pan See blog post above if you only have a jelly roll pan or 9×13 pan.
Ingredients
Applesauce Cake
- 1/2 cup butter Softened – 1 stick/cube
- 1 1/2 cups white sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon *if you really like cinnamon add another 1/2 tsp.
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp ground cloves
- 1/4 tsp ground ginger
- 1 cup Unsweetened applesauce
Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting
- 8 oz. cream cheese 1 block of cream cheese
- 1/2 cup butter Softened – 1 stick/cube
- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 to 3 cups powdered sugar add as much as you like to get it as thick and as sweet as you like
- 1 to 2 tsp ground cinnamon start with 1 tsp and add to taste
Instructions
Applesauce Cake
- Preheat oven to 375° and grease your half sheet pan. *See notes below if using a jelly roll pan (it is slightly smaller than a half sheet pan) or a 9×13 pan.
- In a mixer, beat the white sugar and softened butter together until smooth.
- Add in the eggs, and mix them in fully. Then add the sour cream and vanilla. Mix well.
- Add in the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Mix well.
- Add in the spices and mix until fully incorporated.
- Add the unsweetened applesauce and mix well.
- Pour the batter into the half sheet pan. Bake 15-20 minutes. (Mine bakes perfectly at 18 minutes). You will know it is done when the edges start to brown and pull away from the corners of the pan and the top is golden brown. You will also know it is done when you poke a toothpick in the center of the cake and it comes out with only a little crumb on it.You can make the frosting while the bars bake, or are cooling.
- Cool the cake/bars completely before frosting. Make sure to use only forward strokes when frosting this soft cake and do not push too hard or the soft top of the cake will peel and crumble as you frost it. (That means it is a super yummy soft and moist cake)!Cut into pieces and enjoy!
Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting
- In a mixer, add all of the frosting ingredients and mix until smooth. Make sure your butter and cream cheese are softened completely or your frosting will be lumpy!Add more cinnamon to taste.
Notes
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should only be used as an approximation.
