Creating your Pumpkin Cake with Applesauce is simple and enjoyable. Follow these steps to bake your delicious cake:

1. Preheat the Oven: Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9-inch round cake pan or line it with parchment paper.
2. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger until well combined.
3. Combine Wet Ingredients: In a separate large bowl, mix together the applesauce, pumpkin puree, eggs, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract. Stir until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
4. Combine Mixtures: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet mixture, stirring gently until just combined. Be careful not to overmix; a few lumps are perfectly fine.
5. Add Nuts (Optional): If you’re using nuts, fold them into the batter gently at this stage.
6. Pour into Pan: Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan, spreading it evenly.
7. Bake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 35-40 minutes. Check for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center; it should come out clean.
8. Cool: Once baked, remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool in the pan for about 15-20 minutes. Then, transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely.
9. Frost or Serve: Once cooled, you can frost the cake with cream cheese frosting or serve it plain with a dusting of powdered sugar.

Enjoy the wonderful aroma and flavors as you prepare this delightful cake!