Spice Cake With Cinnamon Streusel

Spice Cake on top of a rustic wooden cake stand.

4.61 from 23 votes

Spice Cake With Cinnamon Streusel

This spice cake is the ultimate comfort food. Paired with cinnamon cream cheese frosting and cinnamon streusel for some crunch.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Prep Time 2

Cook Time 30

Total Time 2 30

Servings

Calories 782kcal

Author Olivia

Ingredients

Spice Cake:

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsps baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp ground cinnamon
3/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp ground cloves
3/4 cup unsalted butter room temperature
1 1/2 cups dark brown sugar packed
3 large eggs
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup applesauce unsweetened

Cinnamon Streusel:

1/2 cup all-purpose flour
6 Tbsp light brown sugar packed
1 Tbsp ground cinnamon
3 Tbsp unsalted butter melted
pinch salt

Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting:

8 oz cream cheese full fat, room temperature
1 1/4 cups unsalted butter room temperature
4 cups powdered sugar
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla extract

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Spice Cake:

Preheat oven to 350F. Grease and flour three 6" cake rounds and line with parchment.
In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, spices, and salt until well combined. Set aside.
Using a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream butter and dark brown sugar on med-high until pale and fluffy (approx 3mins).
Reduce speed and add eggs one at a time fully incorporating after each addition. Add vanilla.
Alternate adding flour mixture and applesauce, beginning and ending with flour (3 additions of flour and 2 of applesauce). Fully incorporating after each addition.
Bake for 30-35mins or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean.
Place cakes on wire rack to cool for 10mins then turn out onto wire rack. Allow to cool completely.

Cinnamon Streusel:

Preheat oven to 350F and line a baking sheet with parchment.
Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl until clumps form. Spread on parchment lined baking sheet and bake for 5-7mins.
Cool completely on baking sheet. Break up any larger chunks if needed.

Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting:

Beat butter and cream cheese until fluffy (2 mins). Add powdered sugar one cup at a time. Add vanilla & cinnamon and beat until fluffy (3 mins).

Assembly:

Place one layer of cake on a cake stand or serving plate. Top with 2/3 cup of frosting and 1/4 cup streusel (or more if desired). Repeat with remaining layers and apply a thin coat of frosting all over the cake. Chill for 20mins.
Use the remaining frosting to frost the cake with rustic swoops. Use extra streusel to decorate bottom and top of cake if desired.

Nutrition

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