This Easy 4-Ingredient Apple Cake is Heavenly

Photo byMy Baking Addiction

This apple cake is a quick one-bowl recipe that's just right for fall. It's light yet moist with a dash of cinnamon and it pairs beautifully with homemade cream cheese frosting (see recipe below).

The recipe takes about 10 minutes to prep and requires only four ingredients: unsweetened applesauce, self-rising flour, butter and sugar. You don't need an electric mixer and can combine the ingredients by hand.

Though there aren't any eggs, it's impossible to tell the difference. To make this cake vegan, all you need to do is swap out the butter for vegetable oil. And if you don't have self-rising flour, it's easy to make your own with all-purpose flour, baking powder and a dash of salt.

Serve the cake plain or frost it and sprinkle some chopped walnuts across top. Or frost the cake then decorate it with apple slices and a little caramel sauce for a fancier look.

Easy Apple Cake

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups unsweetened cinnamon applesauce

1 1/4 cups granulated sugar

4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

2 2/3 cups self-rising flour

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease an 8-inch square pan or line it with parchment paper.

2. In a large bowl, mix together the applesauce, sugar and melted butter. Add the flour and mix with a spatula until thoroughly combined. Batter will be thick.

3. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth out the surface with a spatula. Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

4. Cool on a wire rack and serve.

Notes

If you don't have unsweetened cinnamon applesauce on hand, plain works too. Or add a teaspoon of cinnamon to the batter. Be sure not to use sweetened applesauce because it will make the cake too sugary.

I've made this cake with a stand mixer and it has turned out fine. Just be sure not to over mix.

To make your own self-rising flour, use this ratio: 1 cup of all-purpose flour, 1 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder and 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Whisk ingredients together to make sure they're well combined.

Add 1/2 cup of nuts to the batter for a more textured cake.

Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients

1/2 (1 stick) cup butter, softened

1 8-ounce package of cream cheese, softened

4 cups powdered sugar

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Mix the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla together on medium speed until thoroughly combined.

2. Gradually add the powdered sugar and combine on low speed, then increase to medium speed. Beat until frosting is light and fluffy.

Notes

If you're only frosting the top of the cake you might want to halve the recipe (unless you want to store the leftover frosting).