Halloween Spice Cake

Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis

Show: Giada at HomeEpisode: Tricks or Treats

Rated: 4 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (33)

RECIPE
COMMENTS & REVIEWS(33)

Cook Time:
50 min
Level:
Intermediate
Yield:
6 to 8 servings

Times:

Prep: 12 min
Inactive Prep: --
Cook: 50 min
Total:: 1 hr 2 min

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Ingredients

Butter
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for pan
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
2/3 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
2 eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Powdered sugar, for dusting

Directions

For the cake: Place an oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour a 9 by 5-inch loaf pan. Set aside.

In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt, cocoa powder, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice.

In a large bowl, beat the sugars, oil, applesauce, eggs, and vanilla extract to blend. Add the dry ingredients and stir until just blended. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top with a spatula. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool the cake for 10 minutes. Unmold the cake and place on a wire rack to cool completely. Dust with powdered sugar and cut into slices for serving.

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Comments & Reviews

recipe Halloween Spice Cake
Eileen Philadelphia, PA 01-01-2010
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Fast, Easy, Moist Cake!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I love this cake. It is quick and easy to make, not too rich, and lends itself easily to being baked as a loaf, square, or... cup cakes (just juggle the time accordingly). I always add nuts and raisins. Since I never have cocoa on hand, I substitute about 1t of ground coffee. It lends a great flavor that just eludes identification. I can whip up this recipe just about anytime, as I don't have to wait for butter to soften. Hint: buy a pack of lunch box cups of applesauce so you'll always have some on hand.Read more
recipe Halloween Spice Cake
Melissa Ferndale, MI 12-12-2009
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middle didn't bake!
Rated: 3 stars out of 5

I have used many of Giada's recipes, but this one I have not perfected! I baked this cake twice, and the middle was not done... both times. I enjoyed the end with some coffee and tea, but had to throw out the rest :(Read more
recipe Halloween Spice Cake
Donna North Caldwell, NJ 12-10-2009
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A Winner! Worth the trial and effort!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

After making this recipe a few times and reading the other reviewers comments, I have finally perfected it! I used 2/3 cup... applesauce and 1/3 cup vegetable oil and baked it for 60 minutes. (I didn't like using that much vegetable oil, 2/3 cup,in one recipe.) I rotated the pan after 30 minutes. The cake had a nice crust on top and was very moist inside. I have to say, the recipe is more like a bread rather than a cake. Nevertheless, it is wonderful.Read more
recipe Halloween Spice Cake
Alexis Florence, NJ 12-08-2009
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Very Yummy!!!!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I have to say that I have never tried a recipe from Giada that i have not loved!! I did change this recipe a tiny bit. I'm... not a fan of cocoa powder. I simply omitted it and the cake was GREAT!!!!!! Read more
recipe Halloween Spice Cake
Sharon Brampton, ON 11-05-2009
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disappointing
Rated: 2 stars out of 5

I went ahead and made the cake dispite the negative comments about it and I should have saved my time, ingredients and hydro.... The cake took almost 1 hour and 20 minutes to bake and it came out more like a bread than a cake. It was too sweet and I found too much ginger, if I ever did decide to make it again, I would cut down on both ingredients. I made it at night and the next morning it was like a brick, we toasted it with butter to finish it up.Read more
recipe Halloween Spice Cake
Jaimie Raleigh, NC 11-01-2009
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Disappointed
Rated: 2 stars out of 5

This recipe was really easy to make and the flavor was spot on, however I had the same issues that some of the other bakers... that provided reviews. The middle was not done and the outsides were extremely dry. I usually love Giada's recipes, and they are always crowd pleasers, but this one just didn't turn out. Read more