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Applesauce Walnut Raisin Cake for #BundtBakers

Applesauce Walnut Raisin Cake | Magnolia Days

One leaf has to start it all. It turns from green to brown then breaks away from the tree. Soon others join in the annual drop and the ground is covered with them. It signifies the beginning of a new season. Sadly summer is ending and autumn brings its own colors to the landscape. Farmers markets change their offerings to apples, pears, winter squash and more. Baking changes along with it. Warm spices reign as the temperature outside cools down. To celebrate autumn’s harvest I baked an Applesauce Walnut Raisin Cake.

Mace is one of those warm fall spices. However I do not see it used often these days and I wonder why. Perhaps it is because of the name being associated with tear gas or pepper spray. It is actually the ground up aril (net-like sheath) that covers nutmeg. It has an orange-brown color and a heavenly aroma. There is nothing peppery about it and it will not make your eyes tear and burn.

Applesauce Walnut Raisin Cake | Magnolia Days

Heavenly aroma also describes this cake. It is one of those you would wish the scent could be bottled. I could not help but smile when it was baking. I would walk in the kitchen and take deep breaths to try and get in as much as I could. The cake’s aroma is equally matched by its taste. The texture is moist with a delicate crumb combined with chewy raisins and crunchy walnuts. Cinnamon and allspice go along with mace to make a flavor combination that enhances apple and makes this cake fitting for autumn.

Applesauce Walnut Raisin Cake | Magnolia Days

What do you crave when autumn arrives? Take a look at this list of bundt cake recipes celebrating the harvest of the season. There are so many wonderful choices being shared by Bundt Bakers. Thanks to Tux of Brooklyn Homemaker for hosting this month. For other fall recipes, take a look at Apple Walnut Cream Cheese Cookies and Black Rice with Butternut Squash.

Applesauce Walnut Raisin Cake

A recipe for homemade Applesauce Walnut Raisin Cake from scratch. It is a moist cake flavored with warm spices of cinnamon, allspice, and mace.
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings 12 to 16 servings
Author Renee

Ingredients

  • 1 cup chopped walnuts
  • 1 cup golden raisins
  • 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground mace
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs at room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups unsweetened applesauce
  • Confectioners sugar optional garnish

Instructions

  1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 10- or 12-cup bundt pan
  2. Combine walnut and raisins in a small bowl.
  3. Whisk together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, allspice, mace, and salt in a separate bowl. Add 1/4 cup of the flour mixture to the walnuts and raisins and stir to combine.
  4. Cream butter and sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla and beat to combine.
  5. Add flour mixture to creamed mixture alternately with applesauce beginning and ending with flour mixture. Stir in walnuts and raisins.
  6. Transfer batter to prepared pan and spread evenly in the pan.
  7. Bake for 55 to 60 minutes, or until a toothpick or cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean.
  8. Cool cake in the pan for 10 minutes. Remove cake from pan by inverting it onto a wire rack. Cool cake completely.
  9. Dust cake with confectioners sugar if desired.

Recipe Notes

A recipe for homemade Applesauce Walnut Raisin Cake from scratch. It is a moist cake flavored with warm spices of cinnamon, allspice, and mace.

Recipe adapted from one in The Country Cooking Recipe Collection Prize-Winning Apples booklet published in 1994 (no longer in print).

What is Bundt Bakers? It’s a group of Bundt loving bakers who get together once a month to bake bundts with a common ingredient or theme. Follow our Bundt Bakers Pinterest board for incredible bundt cake recipes and inspiration. Stacy of Food Lust People Love heads up our group and has a #BundtBakers page where you can find information and links to the recipes for each month.

Bundt Bakers Logo

How is the monthly theme determined? We take turns hosting each month and choosing the theme/ingredient.

Would you like to join in the fun? If you are a food blogger, send an email with your blog name and url to Stacy at [email protected].

Recipe Rating




Kester

Saturday 20th of September 2014

I've never seen mace at my grocery store. Maybe I didn't notice it because I wasn't looking for it though. I love nutmeg so I'm sure that mace would be great too.

Renee

Wednesday 24th of September 2014

You probably skipped right over mace if you weren't looking for it. I usually find it in the smaller jars in the spice section.

Stacy

Friday 19th of September 2014

I grated whole nutmeg into my Bundt and kept putting my face practically into the bowl of dry ingredients until it was time to mix it into the batter. The fragrance of mace and nutmeg is the best. What a beautiful cake, Renee! I love the walnuts throughout.

Renee

Wednesday 24th of September 2014

I grate nutmeg too for the same reason. Oh the wonderful fragrance!

Lauren Everson

Thursday 18th of September 2014

I've never had mace before! Is it milder than nutmeg? I'm not a fan of nutmeg so it'd be fun to have a substitute on hand - if I could find it. Good thing there's the internet. ;)

Renee

Wednesday 24th of September 2014

Mace is milder than nutmeg. I think you would like it as it has a slightly more delicate flavor too.

Liz @ Floating Kitchen

Thursday 18th of September 2014

This bundt cake looks perfect for fall. And yeah, I basically totally forgot that mace even existed until I just read it above. I'm not sure I can even really remember what it tastes/smells like. Guess I need to get me a jar and make this ASAP. Beautiful photos!

Renee

Wednesday 24th of September 2014

Thanks Liz!

Kathia Rodriguez

Thursday 18th of September 2014

What a prefect and beautiful bundt cake, I bet it taste delicious.

Renee

Wednesday 24th of September 2014

It sure does Kathia, thanks!