Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). It’s essential to have your oven ready for an even bake. While that’s warming up, you can prepare the batter and get everything mixed up.

Grease an 8-inch square baking pan with a bit of olive oil or line it with parchment paper. This makes sure the cake comes out easily after baking. You wouldn’t want to lose any of that deliciousness, would you?

In a large mixing bowl, combine the applesauce, maple syrup, cane sugar, olive oil, filtered water, apple cider vinegar, and vanilla extract. Stir these together until fully combined. You want a smooth mixture with a slight hint of sweetness and tang from the vinegar.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and any optional spices you choose. It’s important to mix these so that the leavening agents act evenly throughout the cake. Gradually add the dry mix into the wet mixture, folding them gently together. It’s okay if a few lumps remain; we’re not trying to make a meringue here.

If you want to play with textures and flavors, fold in your optional ingredients; think about adding raisins for sweetness, chopped walnuts for crunch, or coconut for a tropical twist. This adds a unique touch to the cake.

Pour the batter into your prepared baking pan. Smooth the top with a spatula if needed. Pop it into the preheated oven and let it bake for about 30-35 minutes. You’ll know it's done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Once baked, remove the cake from the oven and let it cool in the pan for about 10 minutes. Transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely. Slice it up and enjoy!