Maple Frosted Spice Cake in 45 Minutes

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9-inch round cake pan and line the bottom with parchment paper.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, coconut sugar, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and sea salt until no clumps remain.
3. In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and unsweetened applesauce until smooth. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition, then stir in the vanilla extract.
4. Alternating between the dry ingredients and the buttermilk, fold the mixture together using a spatula. Stop mixing the moment the last streak of flour disappears to ensure a tender crumb.
5. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean with a few moist crumbs.
6. To prepare the frosting, whisk the maple syrup into softened butter at room temperature until emulsified.
7. Gradually whisk in the sifted confectioners' sugar, heavy cream, and a pinch of salt until the frosting is stable and velvety.
8. Allow the cake to cool completely before applying the maple frosting.