1-First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and get two 9-inch round baking pans ready by spraying them with non-stick spray and lightly dusting with flour. This helps prevent the cake from sticking and ensures a clean release. In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and all the spices until they’re well combined; set that aside for later.

2-Next, in a mixer, break up the brown sugar to remove any clumps, then add the vegetable oil and applesauce, mixing until everything blends smoothly. Now, incorporate the eggs and vanilla extract, giving it a good stir to combine. Gradually add half the dry ingredients, followed by the buttermilk, and then the rest of the dry mix, keeping the speed low to avoid overmixing.

3-Once your batter is ready, divide it evenly between the prepared pans. Bake for 28 to 32 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the cakes cool in the pans for 5 to 10 minutes before moving them to a wire rack. For the frosting, cream the butter and cream cheese until smooth, then mix in the powdered sugar and vanilla extract until it’s all blended.