Apples and pumpkins, cool crisp weather, Fall is my favorite season and I can’t wait until I see apples at the farmers market. This cake tastes like Fall, warm spices, apples, not too sweet and so simple to make, you don’t need a mixer only the ingredients, a bowl and spoon. I make homemade applesauce but you can buy it at the grocery store. You don’t have to brown the butter but I highly recommend it as it adds a deep almost nutty flavor. I frosted with a cream cheese frosting but its equally good with an American or Swiss meringue buttercream. Here’s how to make it:

Brown butter applesauce spice cake

4 oz (1 stick) salted butter browned and cooled to room temperature

2 cups flour

1 1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp ginger

1/4 tsp nutmeg

3/4 tsp kosher salt

2 cups lightly packed light brown sugar

2 large eggs

1 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce

Pre heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour two 8 inch round cake pans and line with a parchment round. Sift flour, baking soda and powder, spices and salt into a mixing bowl. Mix cooled brown butter, eggs, brown sugar and applesauce until combined. Add wet ingredients into dry and mix until thoroughly combined. Divide into prepared pans and bake approximately 30 minutes or until golden brown and cake tester comes out clean. Let cool 10 minutes in pans then invert onto cooling rack, cool completely before frosting.

Cream cheese frosting

8 oz softened cream cheese

4 oz unsalted butter softened

3 1/2 c powdered sugar

2 tsp vanilla extract

1-2 tbs milk or cream

Cream butter and cream cheese until light and fluffy, add powdered sugar and vanilla, continue beating adding milk or cream a little at a time until reaching desired spreadable consistency.

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