Best 15 Martha Stewarts Apple Spice Cake Recipes

SPICED APPLE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Brush a 9-by-3-inch baking dish with butter. Line bottom and 2 long sides with parchment, leaving a 2-inch overhang; butter parchment.
• Whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, baking soda, allspice, and ginger. In a large bowl, whisk eggs until pale and foamy. Whisk in sugar and vanilla until combined. Add half of flour mixture, then half of butter and sour cream, whisking just until combined. Repeat with remaining flour mixture, butter, and sour cream (do not overmix). Transfer batter to prepared baking dish, smoothing top with a spatula.
• Toss apples with lemon juice and scatter evenly over batter. Bake until apples are tender and golden brown in places and a toothpick inserted into center of cake comes out with moist crumbs, 40 to 45 minutes. Warm jam in a small saucepan over medium until it becomes thin and brushable. Immediately brush apples with jam. Let cool completely on a wire rack. Lift cake from pan using parchment and transfer to a board to slice; serve.

APPLESAUCE SPICE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour a 12-cup nonstick Bundt pan. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy; add eggs and beat well.
• Combine the raisins, currants, and walnuts in a small bowl. Sprinkle with a tablespoon of flour and toss to coat to prevent sinking during baking. Whisk remaining flour with other dry ingredients in a medium bowl. Beat flour mixture into butter mixture alternating with applesauce. Reduce to low speed and beat in raisins, currants, and nuts. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean, about 60 minutes.
• Remove from oven and let cool in pan 5 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

CARAMELIZED-APPLE SPICE CAKE

Steps:

• Put 1/2 stick butter into a large nonstick skillet. Using the tip of a paring knife, scrape seeds from vanilla bean into skillet, and toss in pod. Cook over medium heat until butter is lightly browned, about 2 minutes. Stir in apples, cider, and 1 cup granulated sugar. Raise heat to medium-high, and cook, stirring occasionally, for 8 minutes. Reduce heat to low, and cook until apples are golden and translucent and liquid has evaporated, about 10 minutes. Discard vanilla pod. Let cool.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter two 8-by-2-inch round cake pans. Dust with flour, and tap out excess. Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices. Reserve 1/4 cup flour mixture.
• Beat remaining 2 sticks butter, remaining 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar, and the brown sugar with a mixer on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Reduce speed to medium, and add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Reduce speed to low. Beat in flour mixture in 2 batches, alternating with the sour cream and scraping bowl as needed. Add remaining 1/4 cup flour mixture to apple mixture, and toss. Fold in apple mixture and pecans.
• Divide batter between prepared pans. Bake until tops are dark golden brown and a toothpick inserted into centers comes out clean, 55 to 65 minutes. Let cool for 30 minutes on a wire rack. Run a knife around edges of cakes to loosen. Unmold cakes, and let cool, right side up, on rack.
• Assemble cake: Trim each cake so it's 1 3/4 inches high. Place 1 cake, cut side up, on a cake stand. Spread 1 1/2 cups buttercream over top. Place remaining cake, cut side down, on top. Spread 1 cup buttercream over entire cake. Refrigerate until firm, about 45 minutes. Spread remaining frosting over cake. (Cake can be refrigerated, uncovered, overnight.)
• Before serving, decorate with marzipan pumpkins, acorns, and leaves.

APPLE LAYER CAKE WITH CREAM-CHEESE FROSTING

Steps:

• Cake: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter three 8-inch round cake pans; line with parchment. Butter and flour parchment, tapping out any excess.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, and salt. In a large bowl, whisk together butter, brown sugar, and eggs until well combined; fold in grated and diced apples. Add flour mixture; mix just until combined. Divide batter among prepared pans; smooth tops.
• Bake until a tester inserted in centers comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Let cakes cool in pans 20 minutes, then invert onto wire racks; remove parchment. Invert cakes again; let cool completely on racks.
• Frosting: In the bowl of a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter on medium-high speed until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add cream cheese and beat until well combined and fluffy, about 2 minutes more. Add confectioners' sugar and salt; beat 5 minutes.
• Place a cake layer on a serving plate. Spread about 1 cup frosting evenly over it; top with a second cake layer. Repeat with another 1 cup frosting and third cake layer. Spread remaining frosting over top and sides of cake. Refrigerate at least 1 hour and up to 4 days. Return to room temperature before serving. Garnish with apple chips, if desired; use a serrated knife to slice cake.

APPLE-PIE CAKE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Using an electric mixer or a pastry cutter, cut in butter until the mixture forms pea-size pieces. Press 2/3 of the mixture onto bottom and 1 inch up the side of a 9-inch springform pan.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Peel apples, cut into thin slices, and place in a bowl. Pour off any accumulated liquid. Toss apple slices with remaining teaspoon cinnamon and lemon juice, and put them in the prepared pan, pressing down gently as you pack them in (they will mound above the edge of the pan). Sprinkle remaining crumb mixture on top.
• Put the pan on an aluminum foil-lined baking sheet, and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until golden brown on top. Run a knife around the edge of the pan, and let the cake cool in the pan to set. Serve at room temperature.

SPICED SNACKING CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Brush a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with oil. Line with parchment, leaving a 2-inch overhang on two sides; brush parchment. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and cardamom.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together egg and yolk, sour cream, oil, vanilla, and 3 tablespoons milk until combined. Add egg mixture to flour mixture; stir until smooth (batter will be thick). Transfer to prepared pan, smoothing top with an offset spatula.
• Bake until lightly golden and top of cake springs back when lightly pressed, 35 to 40 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack; let cool 30 minutes. Using overhangs, transfer cake from pan to rack; let cool completely.
• In a small bowl, whisk together confectioners' sugar, remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons milk, vanilla seeds, 1 1/2 teaspoons lemon zest (or up to 1 tablespoon, for a zesty bite), and 1 tablespoon lemon juice until smooth and pourable. (If glaze is too thick, add up to remaining 2 tablespoons lemon juice.)
• Pour over top of cake, spreading to edges with offset spatula. Allow to set before slicing, about 30 minutes. Cake can be refrigerated, wrapped in plastic, up to 3 days; return to room temperature before serving.

APPLESAUCE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and cardamom. Set aside.
• In another bowl, with an electric mixer, beat butter, brown sugar, and honey until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until combined. With mixer on low speed, gradually add flour mixture; beat just until combined. Beat in applesauce.
• Generously coat a nonstick 9-inch tube pan with cooking spray. Spoon batter into pan; smooth top. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean (but slightly wet), 50 to 60 minutes.
• Cool on a wire rack 10 minutes. Turn out of pan onto a cutting board or baking sheet; invert cake onto rack, top side up. Cool completely. Dust with confectioners' sugar before serving, if desired.

MRS. KOSTYRA'S SPICE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour an 8-by-8-by-2-inch baking pan. In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, allspice, salt, nutmeg, mace, and cloves three times.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar together. Add eggs one at a time, beating to combine after each addition. Alternate adding the flour mixture and milk to the butter mixture, starting and ending with the flour mixture.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan, and bake until cake is golden brown and a cake tester inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, about 1 hour. Transfer pan to a wire rack to cool for 10 minutes. Invert cake onto a plate, remove pan, and invert cake again onto the rack, so it's top side up.
• Using a toothpick, poke holes all over the top of the cake. Brush top and sides of cake with glaze while the cake is still warm; let cool.
• Dust the cake with confectioners' sugar, place on a serving platter, and serve.

APPLE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking pan; set aside. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugars, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. Add the apples, walnuts, butter, and eggs; stir just until combined.
• Spoon into pan; smooth with a spatula. Bake 40 to 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan. Dust with confectioners' sugar to serve.

GLAZED APPLE-SPICE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Butter and flour a 5-by-9-inch loaf pan.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, whole-wheat flour, baking powder, kosher salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice.
• Use an electric mixer to beat together butter and light brown sugar until fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add molasses; beat until combined. Add eggs, 1 at a time, plus vanilla, and beat until incorporated.
• With the mixer on low, add half the flour mixture and beat until just combined. Beat in applesauce; add remaining flour mixture until just incorporated.
• Peel and core apples, reserving the peel and the core. Cut apple into 1/4-inch cubes, and fold into the batter. Transfer to pan, and bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 70 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack; let cool completely.
• In a small saucepan, combine granulated sugar, 1/2 cup water, and apple core and skin. Bring to a simmer and cook over medium-high heat until syrupy, about 10 minutes.
• Remove cake from pan, and brush glaze over top and sides of cooled cake.

APPLESAUCE COFFEE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat a 10-inch angel-food-cake pan with cooking spray; set aside. Make crumb topping: Stir together 4 tablespoons butter, the dark-brown sugar, oats, 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon, and 1/4 teaspoon salt until smooth. Stir in 1/2 cup pecans; set aside.
• Make batter: Sift flour, baking soda, nutmeg, cloves, and remaining 2 teaspoons cinnamon and 3/4 teaspoon salt; set aside. Put remaining 8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter, the granulated sugar, and light-brown sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Cream on medium speed until smooth, about 3 minutes. Mix in the eggs, one at a time. Reduce speed to low; mix in applesauce and then flour mixture. Stir in remaining cup nuts by hand.
• Pour batter into oiled pan; sprinkle reserved crumb topping over batter. Lay apples on top, tucking some into batter.
• Bake until a cake tester inserted near center comes out clean, about 1 hour and 10 minutes. Let cool in pan on a wire rack.

APPLESAUCE SPICE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour a tube pan (Martha likes to use a gugelhupf mold).
• Cream butter with sugar. Add egg and beat well.
• Sift a bit of flour over the raisins, currants, and walnuts. (This prevents sinkage during baking.) Sift remaining flour with other dry ingredients. Beat into butter mixture, then stir in applesauce, and finally raisins, currants, and nuts. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for approximately 40 minutes.
• Remove from oven, cool in pan 5 minutes, and turn out onto rack to cool completely.

JOHN'S THREE-LAYER APPLE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter three 8-inch-round cake pans; line bottoms with parchment paper. Butter, then flour paper and sides (tapping out excess); set aside.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, and salt; set aside. In a large bowl, whisk together butter, sugar, and eggs until well combined; fold in grated and diced apples. Add flour mixture; mix just until combined. Divide batter among prepared pans; smooth tops.
• Bake until a toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Cool cakes in pans 20 minutes, then invert onto wire racks; peel off parchment. Invert cakes again, and let cool completely on racks.
• Make buttercream: In a heatproof bowl set over (not in) a pan of simmering water, whisk together egg whites, sugar, and salt until sugar has dissolved; remove from heat. Using an electric mixer on medium, beat mixture until fluffy and cooled, about 15 minutes. Increase to high; beat until stiff peaks form. Reduce to medium-low; gradually add butter, beating until fully incorporated, about 3 to 5 minutes.
• Assemble cake: Place one layer on a serving plate; spread top with buttercream. Top with another layer; spread top with buttercream. Top with third layer; spread remaining buttercream over top and sides of cake. Refrigerate at least 1 hour (or up to 4 days). To serve, bring cake to room temperature; slice with a serrated knife.

APPLESAUCE CAKE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 325 degrees. Brush a 10-inch springform pan with soft butter. Coat the pan with 1/4 cup superfine sugar, lightly tap out excess sugar, and set pan aside.
• Combine 1 cup butter and remaining 2 cups superfine sugar in bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Beat on medium speed, scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula, until mixture is light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Carefully fold in the applesauce. Do not overmix.
• Sift together 2 3/4 cups flour, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, cloves, salt, and baking powder. Fold the dry ingredients and pecans into the applesauce mixture. Add the vanilla, Calvados, and apple slices, and mix until just combined.
• Transfer the batter to the prepared springform pan. Combine the remaining 3 tablespoons butter, 3 tablespoons flour, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, brown sugar, and ginger in a small mixing bowl. Mix with fingers until just combined, and sprinkle lightly over the batter. Place cake in oven, and bake until a cake tester inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, about 1 hour and 50 minutes. Let stand until completely cool.

APPLE-CINNAMON BUNDT CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Make the cake: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cinnamon, baking powder, salt, and baking soda.
• In a large bowl, combine butter, brown sugar, and eggs. Whisk until smooth. Gradually whisk in dry ingredients just until combined (do not overmix). Using a rubber spatula, fold in apples. Spoon batter into a 12-cup nonstick Bundt pan, and smooth top. Bake until a tester inserted in cake comes out clean, 50 to 60 minutes. Cool in pan on rack 15 minutes; invert onto rack to cool completely.
• Make the glaze: Whisk together confectioners' sugar and enough water to form a thick yet pourable glaze. Set rack with cake over a piece of wax paper (for easy cleanup); drizzle cake with glaze, and let set before serving.