Gran’s Apple Cake

Total Time

Prep: 20 min. Bake: 35 min. + cooling

Makes

24 servings

Updated: Nov. 02, 2023
My grandmother occasionally brought over this wonderful cake warm from the oven. The spicy apple flavor combined with the sweet cream cheese frosting made this recipe one that we treasured. Even though I've lightened it up, it's still a family favorite. —Lauris Conrad, Turlock, California

Ingredients

  • 1-2/3 cups sugar
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
  • 2 tablespoons canola oil
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 6 cups chopped peeled tart apples
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans
  • FROSTING:
  • 4 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese
  • 2 tablespoons butter, softened
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup confectioners' sugar

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°. Coat a 13x9-in. baking pan with cooking spray.
  2. In a large bowl, beat sugar, eggs, applesauce, oil and vanilla until well blended. In another bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt; gradually beat into sugar mixture. Fold in apples and pecans.
  3. Transfer to prepared pan. Bake 35-40 minutes or until top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack.
  4. In a small bowl, beat cream cheese, butter and vanilla until smooth. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar (mixture will be soft). Spread over cake. Refrigerate leftovers.

Nutrition Facts

1 piece: 181 calories, 5g fat (2g saturated fat), 21mg cholesterol, 213mg sodium, 32g carbohydrate (22g sugars, 1g fiber), 2g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 starch, 1 fat.