This easy cake is the perfect after-school snack. It comes with a special sparkly top!
Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 325 degrees. Make aluminum foil sling for 8-inch square metal baking pan by following steps below. Spray foil lightly with vegetable oil spray.
Fold 2 long sheets of aluminum foil so they each measure 8 inches across and roughly 13 inches long.
Lay sheets of foil in pan so that sheets are perpendicular to each other. Let extra foil hang over edges of pan. Push foil into corners and up sides of pan, smoothing foil so it rests against pan.
In medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt.
In large bowl, whisk sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg until well combined. Transfer 2 tablespoons sugar-spice mixture to small bowl and reserve for sprinkling.
Add applesauce, melted butter, cider, egg, and vanilla to large bowl with sugar-spice mixture and whisk until well combined.
Add flour mixture to applesauce mixture and whisk to combine. Use rubber spatula to scrape batter into greased baking pan and smooth top. Sprinkle reserved sugar-spice mixture evenly over batter.
Sprinkle reserved sugar-spice mixture evenly over batter right before baking pan goes into oven.
Place baking pan in oven. Bake until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes.