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Super Moist Spice Cake with Classic Cream Cheese Frosting

A close-up of a moist slice of spice cake topped with thick cream cheese frosting, sitting on a white plate.
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Make this easy spice cake from scratch. It is incredibly moist, loaded with warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, and topped with a simple, silky cream cheese frosting. This is the perfect comforting fall or holiday dessert.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • For the Frosting:
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon milk (or as needed)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans or one 9×13 inch pan.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger.
  3. In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the vegetable oil, applesauce, and sour cream until combined.
  4. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients. Mix on low speed until just combined. Do not overmix.
  5. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
  6. Pour the batter evenly into the prepared cake pans.
  7. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. If using a 9×13 pan, baking time may be closer to 35-40 minutes.
  8. Let the cakes cool in the pans for 15 minutes before inverting them onto a wire rack to cool completely.
  9. To make the cream cheese frosting, beat the softened cream cheese and butter together in a large bowl until smooth and creamy.
  10. Gradually add the sifted powdered sugar, mixing on low speed until incorporated.
  11. Add the vanilla extract. Beat on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add milk one teaspoon at a time if the frosting is too stiff.
  12. Once the cakes are completely cool, frost and stack them.

Notes

  • For an extra cozy flavor, substitute 1/2 cup of the granulated sugar with dark brown sugar.
  • If you want a richer flavor, use buttermilk instead of sour cream.
  • You can bake this as a sheet cake for an easy fall dessert option.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://miameal.com/moist-spice-cake-recipe-with-cream-cheese-frosting/