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Easy Buttermilk Spice Cake

Anyone can make this super simple two-layer buttermilk spice cake! Or, you can make it even simpler by converting to a 9x13 inch cake! It requires ingredients that you probably already have on hand plus, it's the absolute perfect little cozy fall treat! There's a little apple sauce, tangy buttermilk, and cream cheese frosting for the perfect combination of flavors. One of my favorite sweet treats to make in the fall!
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Cooling Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 35 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Buttermilk Spice Cake
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp cinnamon
  • ½ tsp nutmeg
  • 1 cup unsalted butter (melted)
  • ½ cup buttermilk (room temperature)
  • 2 large eggs (room temperature)
  • ¾ cup unsweetened applesauce (room temperature)
For the Maple Cream Cheese Frosting
  • 1 - 8 oz. block of cream cheese (room temperature)
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • ¼ cup maple syrup
  • 1 tbsp buttermilk

Method
 

For the Buttermilk Spice Cake
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two 9-inch round cake pans with parchment paper and spray with non-stick cooking spray. Or, spray a 9x13 inch pan with cooking spray.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together your flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg. Whisk in the melted butter.
  3. Next, beat in the buttermilk and eggs using a handheld mixer. Beat until just combined. Beat in the applesauce and pour evenly into your prepared cake pans.
  4. Bake for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs. Cool in the pans on a wire rack, then remove from pans to cool on wire rack completely before frosting.
For the Maple Cream Cheese Frosting
  1. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a large bowl with a hand mixer, beat the cream cheese, powdered sugar, maple syrup and buttermilk until smooth. Add more powdered sugar or buttermilk as needed. This frosting is a bit runny and quite sticky.
  2. Frost between the layers of your two round cakes, or frost the top of your 9x13 inch cake. Slice and enjoy!

Notes

  • To bake in a 9x13 inch pan, increase baking time from 20 minutes to 28-30 minutes
  • This cake is dense and has a crunchy exterior.
  • This frosting recipe makes enough to frost a 9x13 inch cake or in between the layers of two 9-inch round cakes.
 
High Altitude Adjustments (for anyone living over 3,000 feet. Follow recipe as is for sea level)
  • Reduce sugar by at least 2 tbsp (I would do more if you live above 6,000 feet in elevation)
  • Increase flour by 2 tbsp (more if you live above 6,000 feet in elevation)
  • Decrease baking soda by 1/2 tsp
  • Use 3 eggs instead of 2
  • Increase oven temperature to 365°F
  • Decrease baking time by 5 minutes
 
Helpful Tools
Mixing Bowls | Pam for Baking