There’s something magical about the aroma of an apple spice sheet cake baking in the oven — sweet apples, cozy cinnamon, and buttery brown-sugar frosting fill the kitchen with pure fall comfort. This moist, easy-to-make dessert combines everything we love about fall apple desserts in one simple sheet cake recipe (discover more sheet cake recipes here).
Unlike a layered cake, this easy apple spice cake recipe comes together in minutes and feeds a crowd. With every bite you’ll taste soft apples baked into a tender crumb, balanced by a silky apple spice cake with brown sugar frosting that melts right into the surface. It’s the perfect dessert for family gatherings, bake sales, or cozy weekends at home.
For more seasonal twists, try our pumpkin sheet cake, apple cinnamon sheet cake, or classic banana sheet cake.
Why You’ll Love This Apple Spice Sheet Cake
This moist apple sheet cake takes the best flavors of autumn and wraps them in one dreamy bite. Here’s why bakers keep coming back to this recipe — and why it deserves a top spot on your sheet cake recipes list (see our complete collection):
- Incredible Moisture. The secret is in the combination of grated apples or unsweetened applesauce, oil, and sour cream, creating a texture that stays tender for days.
- Warm, Balanced Spices. Cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice transform a simple cake into the ultimate apple spice cake with cream cheese frosting experience.
- Easy to Make. One bowl, no mixer required — just mix, pour, and bake.
- Crowd-Friendly. Baked on a half-sheet pan, it yields the ideal cake-to-frosting ratio — a favorite trick from our texas sheet cake recipe.
If you love baking for autumn celebrations, pair it with hot cider or a slice of lemon sheet cake for a bright contrast.
Ingredients You’ll Need
To achieve that irresistible bakery-style flavor, gather these pantry staples before starting your apple spice sheet cake.
🧁 For the Cake Batter
- All-purpose flour
- Baking soda + baking powder
- Salt
- Ground cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves & allspice
- Unsweetened applesauce or grated fresh apples for a homemade applesauce cake texture
- Vegetable oil (or melted butter for a richer crumb)
- Sour cream for extra moisture
- Eggs and pure vanilla extract
- Brown sugar + granulated sugar for deep caramel notes
🍯 For the Frosting
- Cream cheese and butter (softened)
- Brown sugar for a toffee-like sweetness
- Powdered sugar for structure
- Vanilla extract and a pinch of salt
- A hint of ground cinnamon to create the perfect cinnamon cream cheese frosting
This frosting bridges the gap between the deep flavor of a brown sugar frosting and the tangy smoothness of cream cheese. For chocolate lovers, try the same topping on our peanut butter chocolate sheet cake.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Preheat the Oven. Set to 350 °F (175 °C) and lightly grease a 13×18-inch half sheet pan or a 9×13 pan for a thicker cake.
- Mix the Dry Ingredients. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and spices.
- Combine Wet Ingredients. Whisk oil, sour cream, eggs, vanilla, and both sugars until smooth.
- Bring Them Together. Fold the wet mixture into the dry until just combined; don’t overmix.
- Add the Apples or Applesauce. This is where the magic happens — your batter will smell like fall already!
- Bake. Spread evenly and bake 20-25 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean and the edges pull away.
- Cool and Frost. Prepare your apple spice cake with brown sugar frosting while the cake cools slightly. Spread the warm frosting gently across the surface so it melts into the crumb.
Once set, slice into squares and serve with coffee or tea. For a fun variation, top with toasted pecans like we do in our southern-style red velvet sheet cake.
Recipe Tips & Variations
Creating the perfect apple spice sheet cake isn’t about perfection — it’s about warmth, texture, and that irresistible cinnamon-sugar aroma that fills your kitchen. Here are my tried-and-true tips from years of baking this easy apple spice cake recipe:
🧁 Chef James’s Tips
- Check your spices. Use fresh cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves — stale spices dull the flavor of your moist apple sheet cake.
- Don’t overmix. Stir the batter just until the dry ingredients disappear. This ensures a soft, tender crumb.
- Warm frosting = magic. Pour your apple spice cake with brown sugar frosting while the cake is still slightly warm so the frosting melts into every bite.
- Half sheet pan or 9×13 pan? For a thin, bakery-style bar, use a half sheet pan. For a thicker, fluffy version, use a standard 9×13.
🍎 Variations
- Dairy-Free Version: Substitute coconut cream for sour cream and use vegan butter in the frosting — similar to our vegan chocolate sheet cake.
- Nutty Twist: Add ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts for a southern-style crunch like in our carrot sheet cake.
- Caramel Lovers: Drizzle with homemade caramel sauce instead of frosting for a dessert that tastes like a caramel apple festival treat.
- Keto Light Option: Use almond flour and a monk fruit sweetener blend — this trick also works beautifully in our gluten free sheet cake.
Chef James’s suggestion: Warm up a slice and serve it with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream dusted with cinnamon. Heaven in every bite!
Storage & Reheating
Your apple spice sheet cake stays moist and flavorful for days, thanks to the apples and sour cream that keep it tender.
🍂 Storage
- Room Temperature: Store covered at room temp for up to 3 days.
- Refrigerator: Keeps well for 5 days when stored in an airtight container.
- Freezer: Wrap tightly and freeze for up to 3 months (unfrosted is best).
🔥 Reheating
- Oven: Warm slices at 300°F (150°C) for 5–8 minutes.
- Microwave: Heat individual pieces for 10–15 seconds — perfect for bringing back that fresh-from-the-oven softness.
- Air Fryer Tip: Yes, it works! Reheat at 280°F for 3–4 minutes for slightly crisp edges and a soft interior.
This cake also travels beautifully — just like our texas sheet cake recipe — making it perfect for potlucks or fall picnics.
Part 7 – People Also Ask about this apple spice sheet cake,
Q1: Can I use fresh apples instead of applesauce?
Yes! Grate 2–3 medium apples for a chunkier texture. It creates the perfect balance between homemade applesauce cake and traditional spice cake.
Q2: What type of apples works best for baking?
Honeycrisp, Braeburn, or Granny Smith apples give the best sweet-tart flavor for your moist apple sheet cake.
Q3: Can I make this recipe ahead of time?
Absolutely. Bake and cool the cake a day ahead, cover tightly, and frost before serving for best flavor.
Q4: Can I make cupcakes or a bundt version?
Yes, just like our funfetti sheet cake, you can adapt it! Bake cupcakes at 350°F for 18–20 minutes, or a bundt version for 45–50 minutes.
Q5: How do I keep my cake from drying out?
Avoid overbaking and always store covered. Adding applesauce helps keep moisture locked in.
Q6: Can I use a different frosting?
Of course! Try a maple glaze or even a cinnamon cream cheese frosting for a different twist on this apple spice cake with cream cheese frosting.
What to Serve With This Recipe
Pair your apple spice sheet cake with other cozy fall favorites for the ultimate dessert spread:
- 🥕 Carrot sheet cake — adds a fresh, spiced balance.
- 🍫 Cherry chocolate sheet cake — perfect for chocolate lovers.
- 🍍 Pineapple sheet cake — a tropical twist that lightens your table.
- 🍋 Lemon sheet cake — for a zesty contrast to your warm, spiced apple cake.
Whether it’s Thanksgiving, a fall bake sale, or a casual family dinner, this dessert fits any occasion. For even more ideas, check out our best sheet cake recipes – 15 easy, classic & creative sheet cakes.
More Recipes You’ll Love
If you fell in love with this apple spice sheet cake, you’ll adore these other seasonal desserts from our kitchen at Tiramisucake.com. Each one is baked to perfection, family-tested, and designed to make your kitchen smell like heaven:
- 🍫 Try our fudgy texas sheet cake recipe — rich, moist, and perfect for chocolate lovers.
- 🍋 Brighten your day with our lemon sheet cake — light, citrusy, and perfect for spring gatherings.
- 🥥 Bring tropical joy to your table with the coconut sheet cake recipe.
- 🥕 Get cozy with our carrot sheet cake — moist, classic, and topped with dreamy cream cheese frosting.
- 🎃 For fall baking bliss, don’t miss our pumpkin sheet cake.
Each of these recipes connects beautifully with our pillar guide — Best Sheet Cake Recipes – 15 Easy, Classic & Creative Sheet Cakes — where you’ll find endless flavor inspiration.
Recipe Card
🍎 Apple Spice Sheet Cake with Brown Sugar Frosting
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Apple Spice Sheet Cake with Brown Sugar Frosting – Moist Fall Dessert
This moist and warmly spiced Apple Spice Sheet Cake is topped with a velvety brown sugar frosting that melts into the crumb. A simple, crowd-friendly dessert full of cozy fall flavors, perfect for family gatherings or bake sales.
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 16 servings 1x
Ingredients
For the Cake:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons cinnamon
½ teaspoon nutmeg
¼ teaspoon cloves
¼ teaspoon allspice
1 cup unsweetened applesauce (or 2 grated apples)
½ cup vegetable oil (or melted butter)
½ cup sour cream
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¾ cup brown sugar
¾ cup granulated sugar
For the Frosting:
½ cup unsalted butter, softened
4 oz cream cheese, softened
½ cup brown sugar
2½ cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 13×18-inch half-sheet pan (or 9×13 for thicker cake).
2. In a large bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice.
3. In another bowl, whisk together oil, sour cream, eggs, vanilla, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until smooth.
4. Fold dry ingredients into wet until just combined. Do not overmix.
5. Stir in applesauce or grated apples.
6. Spread batter evenly into the prepared pan.
7. Bake for 22–25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
8. Let cake cool slightly before frosting.
9. Prepare frosting: Beat butter, cream cheese, and brown sugar until smooth. Add vanilla, cinnamon, salt, and powdered sugar.
10. Spread frosting over warm or fully cooled cake. Slice and serve.
Notes
Use unsweetened applesauce for a smoother texture or freshly grated apples for extra fruit pieces.
Don’t overmix — this keeps the crumb tender.
Frosting can be applied while cake is slightly warm for a glaze-like effect.
Add chopped pecans or walnuts for texture.
Store covered at room temp for 3 days or refrigerate for up to 5 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 310
- Sugar: 29g
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
Conclusion
As the scent of cinnamon, nutmeg, and baked apples fills your home, you’ll know why this apple spice sheet cake has become one of Chef James’s signature fall desserts. It’s the kind of cake that brings everyone to the table — no fancy layers, no complicated steps, just honest, old-fashioned flavor with a modern touch.
Pair this dessert with a hot drink and a cozy sweater, and you’ve got yourself the perfect weekend treat. And if you’re planning your next baking session, don’t forget to explore our best sheet cake recipes collection for even more ideas.
As always, Chef James reminds you to bake safely — and to check the USDA Food Safety Guidelines at https://www.fsis.usda.gov/ when handling eggs, dairy, and flour.
If you try this recipe, leave a comment below and tell us how it turned out. Did you go with apple spice cake with cream cheese frosting, or the classic brown sugar frosting? Either way, it’s a win! 🍎
