Apple Butter Spice Cake

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup apple butter
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick), melted
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup sugar
• 210 grams flour (1 3/4 cups when measured correctly by scooping and leveling)
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 2 Tablespoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon maple extract
• 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar (you may need another scoop depending on your frosting)
• 3 Tablespoons hot (nearly boiling!) water (you may not use it all)

Instructions

1. 1

   --- FOR THE CAKE: ---

2. 2

   Heat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease and flour an 8-inch square cake pan.

3. 3

   In a large bowl (or a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment), stir together apple butter, melted butter, eggs, and sugar.

4. 4

   Add flour, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and vanilla extract to bowl. Mix until ingredients are just combined and no lumps remain.

5. 5

   Pour batter into your prepared cake pan.

6. 6

   Bake at 375 F for 35-40 minutes or until a cake tester inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.

7. 7

   Transfer cake to a wire cooling rack (see recipe notes) and let cool completely before frosting.

8. 8

   --- FOR THE FROSTING: ---

9. 9

   Once cake has cooled completely, make the frosting! Stir melted butter, maple extract, and powdered sugar together in a large mixing bowl. The sugar will quickly absorb the butter and will begin to clump - this is what you want!

10. 10

    Add hot water to frosting one Tablespoon at a time, stirring between each addition, until frosting comes together and reaches a thick, fudge-like consistency. If you add a little too much water, don't worry - just add a bit more powdered sugar to even it out. This frosting will thicken as it cools, so it's best to work quickly here.

11. 11

    Spread frosting onto cooled cake: Let sit for at least 30 minutes (this gives the frosting a chance to firm up!) then slice and serve.