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What if I told you could make a really delicious, flavorful cake with a boxed cake mix? Using Applesauce, Walnuts Spice Cake and more!

Yeah, I know, seems like “cheating” in the baking realm, but I think it’s fair game.  I mean, we are adding more ingredients, so it’s not totally a boxed cake mix….right?!

Enter: Applesauce Walnut Spice Cake with Cinnamon Buttercream

This cake is incredibly easy to make and really brings in all the flavors of the season.  It all starts with a box of Spice cake mix.  It was a bit hard to find in my grocery store, but I eventually got ahold of it.  Hopefully it’s easier to find where you’re at!  You add some applesauce, a bit of cinnamon and a little more of this and that and you’ve got yourself an incredible sheet cake.

Top with some cinnamon buttercream and you’ve got yourself a pot o’ gold! This is an incredible dessert to take to a doctor’s office as a gift, to your kid’s school for a surprise treat or just to enjoy at home while watching a Fall themed Hallmark movies (when are those gonna start anyway?! Not so patiently waiting over here…). I mean, I’ve got my Applesauce Walnut Spice Cake with Cinnamon Buttercream…I guess I can just enjoy this while I wait.

If you do make this Applesauce Walnut Spice Cake with Cinnamon Buttercream  be sure to tag me on Instagram! I’d love to check it out and feature you on my page 🙂

Applesauce Walnut Spice Cake with Cinnamon Buttercream

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• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 70 minutes
• Total Time: 1.5 hours
• Yield: 12 slices
• Category: dessert, holidays

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Ingredients

For the Cake:

• 1 box Spice Cake mix
• 3 large eggs
• 1 1/3 cup applesauce
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1/2 cup walnuts, roughly chopped
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp. nutmeg

For the Frosting:

• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 3-4 tsp. milk (start with less and add more until desired consistency)
• 1 tbsp. cinnamon

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Instructions

For the cake

1. Preheat oven to 375F.  Grease a 9″x13″ cake pan and set aside.
2. Combine all ingredients except walnuts with an electric mixer until smooth.  Fold in the walnuts.  Pour into baking dish and bake for 45-50 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Allow to cool in pan for 30 minutes before inverting onto serving dish.

For Frosting:

1. Beat butter in the bowl of a stand mixer (or with handheld electric mixer) until fluffy and creamy (about 2 minutes).  Add in powdered sugar and beat on low (so as not to make a huge mess!).
2. Add vanilla and 2 tsp. of milk.  Keep mixing and adding little bits of milk until it reaches your desired consistency.  Add cinnamon and beat until evenly distributed.
3. Frost cake once it’s completely cooled, cut in squares and you’re good to go!

Looking for more Fall recipes?  Here are some savory ones!

Butternut Squash Risotto

Cozy Carrot & Sweet Potato Soup