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It’s time for holiday baking, and I have a confession: I hate pumpkin pie. I’m always on the lookout for desserts that feel celebratory and autumnal to put in place of pumpkin pie, and I’m pleased to share the perfect recipe from the one and only Reese Witherspoon. This applesauce cake from Witherspoon is baked in a Bundt pan, which makes it feel special, and drizzled with a caramel icing that takes it from just plain good to 100% delicious.
How to Make Reese Witherspoon’s Applesauce Cake
First off, of course, you have to bake the cake: Cream together sugar and butter, then add in the applesauce. After mixing in the dry ingredients (plus golden raisins and pecans, for good measure), the cake batter gets poured into a Bundt mold and baked for a whopping 90 minutes. Although that feels like a long time, cakes baked in a Bundt mold often need longer than a sheet cake or cupcakes.
While the cake is cooling, you make the caramel icing. The caramel-flavored base comes from butter, cream, and brown sugar, and once it comes to a beautifully golden boil, you remove it from the heat and add in powdered sugar and a bit of salt for flavor. My advice is to wait until the cake is ready for icing to make the frosting. Because of its caramel base, the icing is finicky and hardens quickly. By making the icing and then pouring it directly on the cooled cake, you’ll ensure a smooth, beautiful finish for your celebratory cake.
Like I said, I’m not a fan of pumpkin pie for its flavors or its textures. This cake, on the other hand, is full of beautiful fall flavors and a pleasing, moist texture that keeps for days on the counter. I loved the cake on its own — it tastes like a healthy-ish coffee cake that could be enjoyed in the morning — but the icing is truly the star in this recipe. It takes what could otherwise be a humble, not-too-sweet dessert and elevates it into the top tier.
If I made it again, I’d ice it right before serving, too. That way, the icing would have the warm caramel taste and temperature as I was serving it to my happy guests! Make sure the cake is cool to room temperature, though, or the icing will come sliding off.
