Halloween Spice Cake

Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis

Show: Giada at HomeEpisode: Tricks or Treats

Rated: 4 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (29)

RECIPE
COMMENTS & REVIEWS(29)

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
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
recipe Halloween Spice Cake
michelle Pembroke Pines, FL 10-31-2009
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Horribly dry cake.
Rated: 1 stars out of 5

I am an avid baker and had hopes that this recipe would come out great. I read the reviews and saw that some people said... that the cake came out dry. They are absolutely right! The cake took longer to bake than expected and when we cut it open after it cooled it was so dry that it was inedible. The three people I had in my household couldn't even finish their pieces. The flavoring is good and if the cake was moist, the cake would probably be delicious. However, the dryness literally takes over your mouth and leaves an after taste. I believe there is something wrong with this cake... I am hoping to turn the leftover cake into biscotti somehow. Don't bother making it! Read more
recipe Halloween Spice Cake
Theresa San juan, CA 10-29-2009
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Good taste but slow baking time!
Rated: 4 stars out of 5

The taste is wonderful but i agree with the persons that said the baking time is wrong. It took more than an hour to bake.
recipe Halloween Spice Cake
frances new york, NY 10-28-2009
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Smooth Spice
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

Had been searching for a spice cake recipe for some time. Finally... found it. The spice is perfect. Not too sweet, just... right. Followed recipe to the "T," had no problems. Mom is asking for more. Giada thanks for always getting it right. Read more
recipe Halloween Spice Cake
CATHY Ansonia, CT 10-28-2009
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Very Disappointing
Rated: 2 stars out of 5

I made this cake last night and was really disappointed. I have made a lot of Giada's recipes in the past and they had all... come out wonderful. Unfortunately, this was not one of them. Outside of the fact that it was an easy recipe to prepare and it certainly made the house smell wonderful, the finished product was a complete let down though. It took much longer then the recipe called for (almost an hour before I finally pulled it out of the oven). The middle was still wet while the outside ends were starting to burn. This morning, the cake was hard as a brick and I had to throw it out. There are too many other delicious recipes out there to be wasting my time on this one. But I will keep trying other Giada recipes, just not this oneRead more