Ina Garten’s Spiced Applesauce Cake Recipe with Bourbon-Soaked Raisins

Baking a delectable Ina Garten applesauce cake with bourbon raisins brings warmth to any kitchen.

Soft, moist, and bursting with autumnal flavors, this cake delivers comfort in every slice.

The bourbon-soaked raisins add a luxurious depth that sets this dessert apart from ordinary recipes.

Rich applesauce ensures the cake remains incredibly tender and packed with fruity goodness.

Spices like cinnamon and nutmeg weave magic through each delightful bite.

Every forkful promises a perfect balance of sweet and complex flavors that dance across your palate.

Grab your mixing bowl and let’s turn simple ingredients into an extraordinary dessert that will have everyone asking for seconds.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

Calories: 320 kcal

Servings: 8

Ina Garten’s Applesauce Cake: Ingredients Rundown

• Bourbon: Adds rich, warm flavor and plumps raisins for intense taste and texture.
• Raisins: Select plump, moist raisins that will absorb bourbon beautifully.

• Butter: Ensures rich, tender crumb and deep golden color.
• Granulated Sugar, Brown Sugar: Provides sweetness and helps create soft, moist texture.
• Eggs: Binds ingredients and creates structure with smooth consistency.
• Vanilla Extract: Enhances overall flavor profile with warm, aromatic notes.
• Applesauce: Adds moisture and natural sweetness with subtle fruity undertones.

• All-Purpose Flour: Creates tender cake structure with perfect crumb.
• Baking Soda: Helps cake rise and ensures light, airy texture.
• Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Cloves: Warm spices that deliver cozy, autumn-inspired flavor.
• Salt: Balances sweetness and elevates overall taste complexity.
• Pecans: Introduces delightful crunch and nutty depth to cake layers.

Tools for Ina Garten’s Bourbon Raisin Applesauce Cake

• Electric mixer with paddle attachment: Essential for creaming butter and sugars, mixing batter smoothly.
• Medium mixing bowls: Perfect for separating dry and wet ingredients.
• Rubber spatula: Great for scraping bowl sides and gently folding in raisins and pecans.
• 23 cm / 9 × 2-inch round cake pan: Ideal size for baking this delicious cake.
• Parchment paper: Helps prevent cake from sticking and ensures easy removal.
• Whisk: Useful for combining dry ingredients evenly.
• Cake tester or toothpick: Helps check cake doneness.
• Cooling rack: Allows cake to cool evenly without getting soggy.

Step-by-Step: Ina Garten’s Moist & Spiced Cake

• Bourbon Raisin Preparation

Soak raisins in bourbon for maximum flavor infusion, letting them absorb the rich liquid essence.

• Batter Foundation

Cream butter and sugars until achieving a luxurious, airy texture that creates cake’s fundamental structure.

• Egg and Vanilla Integration

Gently incorporate eggs and vanilla, blending smoothly to develop cake’s rich character.

• Dry Ingredient Harmony

Whisk flour, spices, and salt together, creating a balanced dry mixture that ensures consistent cake texture.

• Mixing Magic

Slowly combine wet and dry ingredients, maintaining delicate balance to prevent overmixing.

• Applesauce and Extras

Fold in applesauce, bourbon-soaked raisins, and pecans, distributing flavors throughout the batter.

• Baking Transformation

Pour batter into prepared pan, baking until golden and springy, signaling perfect cake completion.

• Cooling and Finishing

Allow cake to cool completely, then adorn with bourbon cream cheese frosting, creating a decadent dessert experience.

Flavor Hacks for Ina Garten’s Applesauce Dessert

• Master this delectable applesauce cake with these expert tips and delightful variations.
• Soak raisins in different liquors like rum, brandy, or even strong coffee to create unique flavor profiles that complement the cake's warm spices.
• Replace pecans with walnuts, almonds, or hazelnuts for a personalized crunch that adds texture and depth to each delicious slice.
• Use fresh, high-quality applesauce or homemade versions to enhance the cake's moisture and bring out a more robust apple flavor throughout the dessert.
• Adjust ground spices according to personal preference – increase cinnamon for warmth or add a pinch of cardamom for an unexpected aromatic twist that elevates the entire cake experience.

How to Present Ina Garten’s Cake with Style

• Cozy Family Brunch Centerpiece: Place this warmly spiced applesauce cake as the star of your weekend family gathering, perfect for sharing with loved ones over coffee.
• Elegant Dessert Pairing: Serve alongside a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream or a dollop of freshly whipped cream to enhance the cake's rich bourbon and apple flavors.
• Afternoon Tea Companion: Cut into elegant slices and present on a decorative cake stand during afternoon tea, complementing the cake's delicate spices with a hot Earl Grey or chai tea.
• Rustic Seasonal Celebration: Showcase this cake during fall gatherings, garnishing with extra toasted pecans and a light dusting of powdered sugar to highlight its autumnal essence.

Best Ways to Keep Ina Garten’s Cake Fresh

• Refrigerate and Extend Freshness: Store this delightful cake in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. The cool environment helps maintain the moisture and prevents the cream cheese frosting from spoiling quickly.
• Freezing for Future Enjoyment: Wrap individual cake slices or the entire cake tightly in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving to preserve the cake's soft texture.
• Room Temperature Serving Strategy: Remove the cake from the refrigerator 1 hour before serving to allow it to reach room temperature. This technique helps restore the cake's original softness and brings out the rich bourbon and spice flavors.
• Smart Portioning Tip: Cut the cake into individual slices and store them separately. This method prevents drying out and makes it easy to enjoy a quick slice whenever a sweet craving strikes. Each portion stays fresh and delicious.

Moist Ina Garten Applesauce Cake With Bourbon Raisins Recipe

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4.5 from 28 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

This warming Ina Garten applesauce cake with bourbon raisins showcases homey comfort through elegant baking techniques. Moist crumb and rich spices create a memorable dessert you’ll savor with each delightful bite.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 10 tbsps (1¼ sticks) unsalted butter
• 2 extra-large eggs
• 1¾ cups all-purpose flour
• 1½ cups unsweetened applesauce
• 1½ tsps baking soda
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• ¾ cup light brown sugar
• ¾ cup golden raisins
• ½ cup coarsely chopped pecans
• ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
• ¼ tsp ground cloves
• 2 tbsps bourbon
• 2 tsps pure vanilla extract
• Whole pecan halves
• Bourbon Cream Cheese Frosting

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Instructions

1. Raisin Preparation: Immerse raisins in bourbon, microwave briefly, and let steep for 15 minutes to maximize flavor absorption.
2. Oven Setup: Preheat oven to 180°C / 350°F. Meticulously prepare cake pan by buttering, lining with parchment, then dusting with flour to prevent sticking.
3. Creaming Stage: Utilize electric mixer to whip butter and sugars until fluffy and pale, creating a light foundational mixture for the cake.
4. Egg Integration: Introduce eggs and vanilla gradually, mixing thoroughly after each addition to ensure a smooth, homogeneous batter.
5. Dry Ingredient Combination: Sift together flour, baking soda, spices, and salt, creating a uniform dry mixture that will provide structure and flavor.
6. Batter Assembly: Gently fold dry ingredients into wet mixture, alternating with applesauce to maintain batter’s delicate consistency.
7. Raisin and Nut Incorporation: Fold bourbon-soaked raisins and pecans into batter, distributing evenly to ensure balanced flavor in every slice.
8. Baking Process: Pour batter into prepared pan, spreading evenly. Bake for 40-45 minutes, monitoring for golden brown color and clean cake tester.
9. Cooling Technique: Rest cake in pan for 30 minutes, then transfer to cooling rack, allowing complete temperature reduction before frosting.
10. Final Presentation: Elegantly spread Bourbon Cream Cheese Frosting across cake’s top, decorating with pecan halves for a sophisticated finish.

Notes

• Boost Raisin Flavor: Microwaving raisins with bourbon helps them plump up and absorb maximum bourbon essence, creating deeper, richer taste profiles.
• Prevent Cake Sinking: Avoid overmixing batter to maintain light, airy texture and prevent dense, heavy cake consistency.
• Master Ingredient Integration: Gradually add eggs and mix on medium speed to ensure smooth, uniform batter without curdling or separation.
• Temperature Matters: Let cake cool completely before frosting to prevent melting and ensure clean, professional-looking finish.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 40 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 320
• Sugar: 28 g
• Sodium: 150 mg
• Fat: 14 g
• Saturated Fat: 8 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 45 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 4 g
• Cholesterol: 50 mg