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Grandma's Applesauce Sheet Cake

Featured in Sweet Treats from My Kitchen.

Classic applesauce cake with homemade applesauce and shortcrust pastry. 30 minutes preparation, 40 minutes baking time. Makes 9 moist pieces.
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Rehan Magic House Recipes
Updated on Fri, 04 Apr 2025 13:24:25 GMT
Applesauce Cake - Grandma's Quick Apple Cake from the Baking Sheet Pin it
Applesauce Cake - Grandma's Quick Apple Cake from the Baking Sheet | magichouserecipes.com

A traditional sheet cake combines tender shortcrust pastry with homemade applesauce for a moist classic. The combination of buttery dough and spiced apple filling, crowned with a fine sugar glaze, makes it the perfect family cake.

Our Basic Ingredients

  • Fresh apples: For homemade sauce
  • Butter: Tender dough
  • Cinnamon: Classic aroma
  • Lemon: Freshness
  • Powdered sugar: For the glaze
Applesauce Cake – Grandma's Juicy Apple Sheet Cake Pin it
Applesauce Cake – Grandma's Juicy Apple Sheet Cake | magichouserecipes.com

Perfect Preparation

Cook applesauce
  • Peel and cut apples
  • Cook until soft with lemon juice
  • Season with cinnamon
Develop dough
  • Process ingredients into shortcrust pastry
  • Use two-thirds as the base
Finish cake
  • Spread applesauce on base
  • Cover with remaining dough
  • Bake and decorate with sugar glaze

Storage

  • Keeps in refrigerator for up to 4 days
  • Tastes even better after 1 day

This traditional applesauce cake is perfect proof that grandma's recipes are timelessly good.

Creative Variations

  • Different apple varieties
  • Pear sauce instead of applesauce
  • Crumble instead of dough lid
  • Almonds in the dough
Applesauce Cake – Simple, Juicy and Perfect Sheet Cake Pin it
Applesauce Cake – Simple, Juicy and Perfect Sheet Cake | magichouserecipes.com

Serving Suggestions

  • With whipped cream
  • With vanilla sauce
  • With cinnamon ice cream
  • With fresh fruits

Troubleshooting

  • Dough too dry: add more butter
  • Dough too sticky: chill
  • Filling too liquid: cook longer
  • Cracks in dough: patch with pieces

This traditional sheet cake is a versatile basic recipe that impresses with crispy shortcrust pastry and juicy filling – perfect for any occasion.

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Why use tart apples?
Tart apples give the cake more flavor and balance the sweetness. They also become nicely soft when cooked.
→ Can I use store-bought applesauce?
Yes, but homemade tastes better and is less sweet. You'll need about 600g of ready-made applesauce.
→ Why more baking powder than usual?
The additional baking powder makes the shortcrust pastry a bit lighter and allows it to rise slightly.
→ Does the cake need to rest overnight?
No, but it becomes moister and the flavors combine better when it does.
→ Can I freeze this cake?
Yes, without the sugar glaze for up to 3 months. Add fresh glaze after thawing.

Grandma's Moist Applesauce Sheet Cake

Traditional sheet cake with homemade applesauce and shortcrust pastry following Grandma's recipe. With sugar glaze perfect for any coffee gathering.

Prep Time
30 Minutes
Cook Time
40 Minutes
Total Time
70 Minutes
By: Reham

Category: Desserts & Sweets

Difficulty: Intermediate

Cuisine: German

Yield: 9 Servings (9 generous squares)

Dietary: Vegetarian

Ingredients

→ For the shortcrust pastry

01 250g all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting
02 125g cold butter, cubed
03 80g granulated sugar
04 1 packet vanilla sugar (or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract)
05 2 teaspoons cream of tartar baking powder
06 A pinch of salt
07 1 large egg, lightly beaten

→ For the spiced applesauce

08 700g tart cooking apples (like Granny Smith or Bramley)
09 Juice of half a lemon
10 30g sugar (adjust to taste depending on apple tartness)
11 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

→ For the lemon glaze

12 200g powdered sugar, sifted
13 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Instructions

Step 01

Peel, core, and dice the apples into small chunks. Place in a saucepan with the lemon juice and a splash of water (about 3 tablespoons). Cover and cook over medium heat until the apples are completely soft, about 15-20 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking. Remove from heat, add sugar and cinnamon, then mash to your preferred consistency - some texture is nice. Set aside to cool.

Step 02

In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, vanilla sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add the cold, cubed butter and rub between your fingertips until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Add the beaten egg and work everything together until it forms a smooth dough. Divide into two portions - about ⅔ for the base and ⅓ for the top. Chill the smaller portion while you work with the base.

Step 03

Preheat oven to 390°F (200°C). Press the larger portion of dough evenly into the bottom and slightly up the sides of a greased baking pan. Spread the cooled applesauce over the dough base. Roll out the remaining dough between sheets of parchment paper and place over the filling, trimming any excess. Bake for 30-40 minutes until golden brown and firm to the touch.

Step 04

While the cake is still warm (but not hot), prepare the glaze by whisking together the powdered sugar and lemon juice until smooth. Pour over the cake, spreading evenly to the edges. For traditional flavor development, allow the glazed cake to rest overnight before cutting into squares and serving.

Notes

  1. For authentic flavor, this cake should rest overnight after glazing - this allows the flavors to meld and the glaze to partially absorb into the top crust.
  2. If making for a larger gathering, simply double all ingredients and use a standard rectangular baking sheet (approximately 13×18 inches).

Tools You'll Need

  • Rectangular baking pan (approximately 13×8 inches/34×20cm)
  • Medium saucepan for cooking apples
  • Immersion blender, potato masher, or fork for making applesauce

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • Contains gluten (wheat flour)
  • Contains eggs
  • Contains dairy (butter)

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 320
  • Total Fat: 12 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 48 g
  • Protein: 4 g