When I’ve got the time, I love to bake two-layer cakes or large sheet cakes complete with homemade frosting or a shiny glaze on top. But, more and more often simple one-layer cakes, like this cocoa-spice cake, are becoming one of my favorite things to serve for an after dinner sweet treat.
Oh trust me, I still wreck my kitchen and bake and frost more elaborate cakes whenever time permits! However, when time is short, what’s most important to me is serving my family something baked from scratch every chance I get. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not at all above using boxed cakes mixes from time to time or picking up a pound cake from the grocery store bakery (one of my all-time favorite dessert short-cuts!) to dress up in a trifle to save a few minutes in the kitchen too.
But, for me personally, serving them homemade desserts make me the happiest. I believe homemade is best because I make sure they are being served quality ingredients in their food without a whole bunch of chemical preservatives or loads of unnecessary sugar mixed in.
This simple cocoa-spice snack cake has become a favorite of mine because it takes very little time to make and it uses ingredients that are typically pantry staples in my house. I’m pretty sure these ingredients are pantry staples for most folks too.
For topping this cake, I prefer a food sprinkle of powdered sugar or I might serve it with whipped cream as. I love those two lighter, time-saving alternatives over making a glaze or icing for this recipe. (And it looks so pretty with the powdered sugar on top too!). But, if you wanted to make a small portion of a vanilla or chocolate glaze for serving you most certainly can.
Anyhoo, the moral of the story is that a delicious cake that’s made from scratch doesn’t have to be difficult to be delicious! I hope you give this time-saving and flavorful little cake a try.
There will be more snack cake recipes to come in 2018 here on Little Fish… they’re a new fave!
Save this recipe on Pinterest!
Enter your email address below to have all of my newest posts sent right into your inbox! It’s free service, so subscribe now and never miss a recipe or and update!
**Post and recipe for Simple Cocoa Spice Cake were originally published January 7, 2018. Recipe was retested and instructions revised and updated on November 15, 2025.**
Simple Cocoa-Spice Cake
This Simple Cocoa-Spice Cake is ready to bake in minutes, and the tender, flavorful results are sure to impress! Have a warm cup of coffee or tea and fresh orange slices ready to enjoy with your piece of this delightful chocolate spice cake.
6
servings15
minutes27
minutesKeep the screen of your device on
Ingredients
1/4 cup salted butter, melted
3/4 unsweetened cinnamon applesauce
1 large egg, slightly beaten
1-1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 cup finely chopped pecans (optional)
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 350°. Prepare a 9-inch cake pan with non-stick cooking spray, line the bottom of the pan with a parchment paper round and set the pan aside.
- In a large bowl, combine melted butter, applesauce, and the egg; mix well, then set the bowl aside. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the flour, sifted cocoa powder, sugar, baking powder, spices, and chopped pecans, if included, and stir until well-mixed.
- Pour the flour mixture into the egg mixture and stir with a wooden spoon until the dry ingredients are just moistened. The batter will be thick. Spread batter evenly into prepared cake pan. Bake for 25-28 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool the cake in the pan on a rack.
- Transfer the cooled cake to a cake plate or cake stand and generously sprinkle with powdered sugar through a sifter or serve with whipped cream. Garnish with fresh fruit and serve with fresh-brewed coffee or hot tea.
- Enjoy!
Notes
- Recipe as published on A Little Fish in the Kitchen at www.alittlefishinthekitchen.com. All content is owned by Marcelle G. Bolton. Please contact the author for permission to republish.
That cocoa spice cake looks amazing! This is just the kind of thing I like to bake, something small and manageable, without a lot of fuss or trouble, no need to make frosting, just a dusting of cocoa or powdered sugar. It looks tasty, and I’ll bet it’s very flavorful with all the spices as well as the spiced applesauce. Thanks for the recipe, I’ll be printing this one out.
Hi Abbe! Thank you 🙂
Hi Marcellina, nice to meet you! Thank you for the kind comment and for your visit! 🙂
Caroline, it's a nice cake to go with a hot cup of tea! Thank you 🙂
Thank you so much, Greg!
Hi Grace, I agree! One layer cakes are my favorites at the moment! Thank you!
Hi Karen, thank you!!
Hi John, thank you 🙂
I love simple cakes…especially those with cocoa, spices and applesauce!
Hi Marcelle! We have a similar name and also same ideas…I totally get that you want to give you family food made from scratch. I'm exactly the same. And I think the best topping for a cake is powdered sugar. Thanks for sharing a great recipe!
I really like the sound of the spices in this chocolate cake, I could just do with a slice with a cup of tea.
Home made is best. Especially in your hands. GREG
i've become quite the fan of the one layer cake! this one is simple enough to eat every day but special enough to serve at a dinner party!
I like everything about your cake, the cinnamon applesauce and all the spices…then you add pecans. Yes, I'd take a slice anytime. 🙂
Hey Cheri! I usually put them in the batter when I add them, but I think it would be good to sprinkle some on top too. Thank you for asking, I'll update the post instructions 🙂
This looks like the perfect snacking cake Marcelle, thinking about making this later today. Wondering about the pecans, do you sprinkle them on top of the cake with the powdered sugar or do you add them to the batter? Take care and Happy New Year~
I'll never turn down cake! And this is such a good looking one — really good stuff. Thanks!
Hi David! It was a nice little treat 🙂 Thank you!
I can only imagine that this would be great for breakfast, too! I love the spices in it – I have never made a chocolate cake with spices like this!
Hi Eileen, thank you!!
Thank you, Cindy!
I agree!! Thank you, Lisa!
Hi Trang! Always!! Thank you 🙂
You're right, this is the perfect little snack cake. I agree that baking from scratch doesn't have to be complicated.
I love a simple spice cake. This sounds extra good with a bit of cocoa!
A piece of this simple cake would go perfect with a cup of tea!
I'd love to end my Sunday meal with a slice of cake!
Thank you, Laura!
This is beyond elegant and perfect for so many occasions.
Good morning, Angie! thank you! 🙂
I too love simple baked goods like this…nice that you have used applesauce to replace some of the fat here…much healthier, but still very moist and delicious.