Spiced Cinnamon Apple Cake

Let’s be honest—fruitcake and I have never gotten along. Every December, they appear everywhere, and every year I think the same thing: one is already too many. It’s just not my dessert. So when this month’s Foodie Extravaganza theme turned out to be fruitcake, I almost bowed out.

Then it hit me—why not make a “fruit cake” with fruit I actually enjoy? Something cozy, spiced, and comforting. Something I’d be excited to bake, eat, and share. What came out of the oven was so good it disappeared almost instantly. I gave away a few loaves, but the rest didn’t last long at all.

🍏 A Touch of Orchard Magic

Friends of mine own an apple orchard that’s pure abundance—apples, peaches, pears, tomatoes, corn, potatoes, green beans, peas… you name it. They brought me apples several times this fall, and I even canned some. The last batch found its way into this cake—well, a portion of it anyway. It was a very big bag.

I baked the batter in small loaf pans to share with the ladies I visit teach, and used two 6-inch round pans for the rest. You could easily bake this in a 9×13-inch pan or a bundt pan if you want something more dramatic.

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📋 Ingredients

• ½ cup butter, softened
• ½ cup brown sugar
• ½ cup white sugar
• 2¼ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup oat flour
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1½ teaspoons baking soda
• 3 tablespoons cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground ginger
• 2 cups unsweetened applesauce
• 3 cups diced apples
• 1½ cups chopped pecans

Glaze

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

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🍽️ Instructions

Step 1: Preheat & Prepare

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease your chosen pan or pans thoroughly.

Step 2: Cream the Base

In a mixing bowl, beat the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until light and smooth. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.

Step 3: Add the Spices

Mix in the salt, baking soda, cinnamon, and ginger until evenly incorporated.

Step 4: Incorporate the Flours

Gradually add the all-purpose flour and oat flour, mixing just until combined.

Step 5: Fold in the Good Stuff

Stir in the applesauce, then gently fold in the diced apples and chopped pecans.

Step 6: Bake

Spread the batter evenly into prepared pans. Bake for 50–60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Step 7: Prepare the Glaze

Once the cakes have cooled, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth. Adjust thickness as needed.

Step 8: Finish & Enjoy

Transfer the glaze to a piping bag—or a plastic bag with the corner snipped—and drizzle over the cakes. Slice, serve, and enjoy every cozy bite.