Soft and naturally sweet, this Cinnamon Applesauce Coffee Cake is simple to prepare and one of our most requested desserts. It mixes basic pantry ingredients with applesauce and cinnamon chips for a moist, flavorful cake that everyone enjoys.
The applesauce keeps the crumb tender while the cinnamon chips add warm, spicy pockets of flavor. A light powdered sugar glaze finishes the cake, making it a perfect treat for breakfast, coffee breaks, or casual gatherings.
Cinnamon Applesauce Coffee Cake Recipe
This recipe is straightforward and relies mostly on staple ingredients. Applesauce ensures a consistently moist cake, and cinnamon chips bring a distinctive, cozy flavor. The glaze is simply powdered sugar mixed with a little warm water (or milk) and poured over the slightly warm cake.
Because this cake has been popular on Pinterest, we also developed a muffin version using the same flavor profile: Cinnamon Applesauce Muffins.
Most ingredients are common; the only specialty item is cinnamon chips. They aren’t always stocked year-round, so keeping a bag on hand or ordering when needed makes sense.
While this cake is especially comforting in autumn when apple flavors feel seasonal, it’s delicious any time of year.
I first found this recipe on a bag of cinnamon chips years ago and adapted it for long-term use. I often bake it in a 9×13 glass baking dish with a lid — the lid helps keep the cake moist without plastic wrap or foil.
Ingredients Needed to Make Cinnamon Chip Cake
- Butter
- Sugar
- Eggs
- Vanilla
- Applesauce
- All-purpose flour
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Cinnamon chips (Hershey’s or similar)
- Powdered sugar
- Warm water (or milk) for the glaze
Where to Find Cinnamon Chips
Cinnamon chips can sometimes be found in larger stores like Walmart, often seasonally in the fall and winter in the baking aisle near chocolate chips. They’re also available at bulk food stores, Amish wholesale groceries, and some smaller hometown grocers.
How to Make Cinnamon Applesauce Cake
- Beat softened butter and sugar together until creamy.
- Add eggs and vanilla, mixing until incorporated.
- Stir in the applesauce.
- Whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture until just blended.
- Fold in the cinnamon chips by hand to avoid breaking them up.
- Pour the batter into a prepared 9×13-inch pan and bake 25–35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Mix powdered sugar with enough warm water (or milk) to reach your preferred glaze consistency; drizzle over the slightly warm cake.
Step By Step Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350°F and coat a 9×13-inch pan with nonstick spray.
In a large bowl, beat softened butter and granulated sugar until light and smooth. Add the eggs and vanilla, then mix in the applesauce. Scrape the bowl with a spatula to ensure everything is evenly combined.
Combine the dry ingredients in a separate bowl. Add the dry mix to the wet ingredients in thirds, stirring after each addition until just blended. The batter will be thick.
Fold in the cinnamon chips by hand, spread the batter into the prepared pan, and bake for about 30 minutes. Test with a toothpick — when it comes out clean, the cake is done.
Allow the cake to cool 20–30 minutes. Whisk powdered sugar with a small amount of warm water or milk until you reach the desired thickness and drizzle over the cake.
A thicker glaze provides a more prominent drizzle pattern, while a thinner glaze spreads and covers more surface area. Both taste the same; choose the look you prefer.
Tips for Making Cinnamon Applesauce Coffee Cake
- Do not mix the cinnamon chips in with the beater; fold them in by hand to prevent them from breaking.
- Let the cake cool slightly before adding the glaze so it sets properly.
- For a more decorative appearance, use a thicker glaze and create distinct drizzles rather than covering the entire surface.
- This cake is delicious warm and stays moist for a day or two at room temperature; refrigerate if storing longer.
More Easy Cakes in a 9 x 13 Pan:
- Gooey Butter Cake – a quick dessert with a cake-and-cheesecake texture.
- Pumpkin Pie Cake – layered flavors that make a great fall treat.
- Pina Colada Cake – a tropical twist using a boxed mix for convenience.
- Crescent Roll Apple Pie – a 9×13-style bake that tastes like pie but looks like cake.
Cinnamon Applesauce Coffee Cake
Equipment
-
Silicone spatula
-
9×13 baking dish
-
Measuring cups
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup applesauce
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 2/3 cups Hershey’s cinnamon chips (10 oz. package)
Easy Glaze
- 3/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1 to 2 tablespoons warm water or milk
Instructions
-
Heat oven to 350℉. Coat a 9×13-inch pan with nonstick spray.
-
Beat butter and sugar until well blended. Add eggs and vanilla, then mix in applesauce.
-
Combine flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture until combined, then fold in the cinnamon chips.
-
Spread the batter into the prepared pan and bake 25–35 minutes, or until a toothpick in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool slightly.
-
Whisk powdered sugar with enough warm water or milk to reach your preferred glaze consistency. Drizzle over the warm cake and serve.
Nutrition
“Plowing Through Life” is not a dietitian. Nutritional information is an estimate and can vary based on the specific products used. For precise values, use a nutrition calculator with the exact ingredients you select.
Originally published on August 25, 2018 with updates made on April 24, 2023.
