Line four 7" or three 8" pans with parchment rounds and grease with non-stick baking spray.

Mix together 3 cups flour, 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar, 1 1/2 cups brown sugar, 2 1/2 tsp baking powder, 2 tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp ginger and 1/2 tsp nutmeg in a large bowl until fully combined.

Mix 1/2 cup of unsalted butter slowly into the dry ingredients on a low speed. Continue to mix until no large chunks of butter remain.

Mix in 4 large eggs on a medium speed until just incorporated, 2 at a time.

Add 1 cup sour cream, 1/2 cup unsweetened apple sauce, 1/2 cup vegetable oil and 1 tsp of vanilla extract. Mix on a low speed until just incorporated.

Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula, then mix on a medium-high speed for a few more minutes to help give these cake layers structure.

Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans and let the batter sit for about 30 minutes before baking. This helps the flour absorb moisture and prevents your cake from having a grainy texture.

As the batter sits, preheat oven to 350°F.

Bake for 32-34 minutes or until a toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs. Allow the pans to cool for 10 minutes, then run a small offset spatula around the perimeter of the pan to separate the cake from the pan.

Flip the cake layers onto a wire rack to let them cool.

Use a serrated knife to level the tops of the layers once they're fully cooled.

If you make these cake layers in advance and freeze them, let them thaw for about 20 minutes before making your cake. The cake layers should still be slightly cold to the touch, which will make it easier to assemble your cake.

While the cake layers bake and cool, make the cinnamon cream cheese buttercream frosting.

Beat 1 cup of butter (2 sticks) and 1 cup of cream cheese on a medium speed for 30 seconds with a paddle attachment until smooth.

Mix in 1 tsp of vanilla extract, 1 tsp cinnamon and 1/2 tsp of salt.

Slowly mix in 7 cups of powdered sugar on a low speed. Halfway through add 2 Tbsp of heavy cream to make the frosting easier to mix.

If the frosting is too thick, add in additional cream (1 TBSP at a time). If the frosting is too thin, add in more powdered sugar (quarter of a cup at a time).

Stack and frost the cake layers on a greaseproof cake board using a dab of frosting to help stick the first cake layer to the board.

Spread an even layer of buttercream between each cake layer.

Cover the cake in a thin coat of frosting. Smooth using a bench scraper, then chill the cake in the fridge (20 minutes) or freezer (5 minutes) until the frosting is firm to the touch.

Add a second, thicker layer of frosting to the cake, and smooth using a bench scraper then decorate as desired! I colored my leftover buttercream with some gel food coloring and spread streaks of it up the sides of the cake to create a Fall-inspired look.