A holy day favorite.
Every holiday needs a special treat, am I right? This Spiced Applesauce Cake is my kids’ “special Rosh Hashanah cake.” It was born out of a mash-up of my vegan Chocolate Applesauce Cake and a recipe in a book on the Feasts of Israel. From the very first time we made it I knew we had a hit! It’s the perfect blend of spices and sweetness, and the texture is sorta spongy – perfect for kids!
Though this recipe is an old favorite, I’ve updated this post with new pictures. I couldn’t help leaving one on from back when my daughters first helped me make this cake, though. They were just so stinkin’ cute!
Happy rosh hashanah.
If you’re here in search of gluten-free Rosh Hashanah recipes, here are a few of my family’s favorites…
- Homemade Apple Cider
- Creamy Squash & Apple Soup
- Honey Walnut Apple Crisp
- Deep Dish Apple Pie
- Savory Pumpkin Muffins with Apple & Sage
- Honey Apple Charoset (I know, it’s technically a Passover dish, but we love it year round!)
- Cinnamon Maple Nut Butter Covered Apples
- Honey Spiced Sweet Potatoes
- Soaked Maple Apple Baked Oatmeal
- Cinnamon Apple Scones
- Honey Sima
- Probiotic Apple Pie Ice Cream
- Apple Pie Smoothie Bowl
In the recipe card I’ve linked to some of the products from my affiliate partners that I like to use. Purchasing through these links won’t cost you anything extra. Thanks!
Spiced Applesauce Cake
Free from gluten, dairy, and eggs.
Ingredients
For the cake:
- 1 cup brown rice flour
- 1 cup arrowroot powder
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum
- 3/4 cup evaporated cane juice or coconut sugar
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon cardamom
- 2 cups applesauce
- 1 tablespoon molasses
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
For the glaze:
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon arrowroot powder
Instructions
Preheat oven to 325 and grease a bundt pan or a 9×13-inch baking dish and dust with rice flour.
In a large bowl, whisk together all dry ingredients.
In a separate bowl combine applesauce, molasses, and vanilla. Add to dry and stir just until combined.
Pour into prepared pan and bake for about 35 minutes. Set to cool.
In small bowl, whisk together honey, cinnamon, and arrowroot. Drizzle over cake.
I am so glad I found this recipe via Green Living Thursdays. What a delectable recipe for Chewy Spiced Applesauce Cake. I look forward to making it soon. I wonder if I can substitute stevia or agave for cane sugar, though.
Welcome! I am sure that you could make that substitution! I have never baked with stevia, so I have no idea what ratio you would use, but if you want to use agave I would cut the sweetener quantity in half and add a 1/4 c. more flour or take out 1/4 c. applesauce. Please let me know how it goes if you try it! : )
This looks so yummy. I make a simple applesauce cake, but this one has more to it! I will definitely try this one!
Thanks, Amber! I hope you enjoy it! : )
Thanks for the recipe! Perfect timing for the onset of apple season! Thanks for posting to Dude, Sustainable! Green Living Thursdays!
No problem! : )
Looks like a great afterschool snack, I will play with the flours and the sweeteners and let you know how it goes! I am featuring your recipe on AFW this week, thanks for shairng it with us!
Thanks, Tessa! I hope that you enjoy the cake with whatever alterations you make. : )
This looks AWESOME! I may have to make these for my kids tonight 🙂 We have tons of applesauce right now, so the recipe came at the right time. Thanks for sharing it on Wellness Wednesdays 🙂
: ) Thanks, Trisha! Hope your kids like it. I know mine gobbled it up. : )
Yum! This looks delicious! Thanks for sharing on Foodie Fridays!! 🙂
Sure! Thank you! : )
This recipe was so quick, easy and delicious! I took it to a classical conversations tutor meeting and they loved it! They wanted the link to your site 🙂
Thanks for the free marketing, Carly! Haha! ; ) So glad you liked the cake.
Happy Valentine’s Day! Thank you so much for sharing your healthy and delicious Chewy Spiced Applesauce Cake with us at the Healthy, Happy, Green and Natural Party Blog Hop. I’m pinning and sharing!
Glad to share, Deborah! Thanks so much for stopping by and pinning!
Hi Raia,
Yum ! This sounds delicious.Your little girls are adorable. Thanks for sharing on Real Food Fridays. Pinned & tweeted.
Thanks, Marla! 🙂
This sounds so delicious with all of those spices! Such a yummy fall treat!
Thank you so much, Emily! 🙂
Love that you use molasses in this!
Thanks, Megan! I love molasses. 🙂
What a pretty cake-it looks so moist & delicious! Your taste testers/helpers are adorable!!
Thank you so much, EA! 🙂
I made this last night 🙂 Super delish!! Thanks for the recipe.
Yay! I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Chrystal! 🙂
Looks like the kiddos are having a fun time in the kitchen and then enjoying the cake. 🙂
They were, CJ! They love to help bake and then enjoy the finished product. 🙂
Wow! I’ve baked with applesauce before and it was great, this cake looks fabulous!
Thanks, Kate!
This sounds amazing, I always go baking crazy in Autumn because I just love all the festive spices. Can’t wait to make this.
Haha! I’m the same Emily! Gimme all the fall baked good! I hope you get to enjoy this one. 🙂
My whole family loved this. It was so easy and turned out so delicious! Will definitely be making again!
I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed it, Kim!
This is a very interesting type of cake. I have not tried making a cake with these flours. The flavor profile sound amazing.
Thanks, Roxana. Gluten-free baking can be quite different, but the results can be equally delicious. 🙂
Can’t wait to try this recipe and some of your other Rosh Hashanah picks! We load up on the sweets for the new year, and going GF/Vegan seems like a good way to balance it out.
I hope you enjoy it, Sara!
This cake looks delicious! Is it possible to sub something for the xantham gum?
Thanks!
Thanks, June! You could sub the xanthan gum for guar gum, if you have that. Or you could just leave it out, though that will make the cake crumblier. Hope you enjoy it, either way!