No Oil Spice Cake

Swapping oil for applesauce in a box cake mix is a classic baking hack, and this one actually works. The applesauce adds moisture and a slight fruity sweetness while cutting the fat significantly. You won’t miss the oil.

Start with a lemon or yellow cake mix and add water, eggs, applesauce, and cinnamon. That’s everything. Beat until smooth and bake according to the package directions. The cinnamon transforms a plain cake mix into something that smells and tastes like a spice cake without buying a separate mix.

The texture is slightly denser than a standard oil-based cake, with a tighter crumb that holds together well. It’s still plenty moist thanks to the applesauce.

Pro Tips

• Use unsweetened applesauce. Sweetened versions add extra sugar on top of what’s already in the cake mix.
• Don’t overmix the batter once the dry mix is incorporated. Overmixing makes the cake tough and gummy.
• Test with a toothpick at the minimum bake time on the box. Applesauce batters can look wet on a toothpick even when done, so look for moist crumbs, not wet batter.
• Let the cake cool completely before frosting. Cream cheese frosting pairs especially well with the cinnamon.

Variations

• Pumpkin spice: Replace applesauce with canned pumpkin purée and add nutmeg and ginger alongside the cinnamon.
• Apple cake: Fold in diced fresh apples before baking for chunks of fruit throughout.