Apple Sauce Cake with Cream Cheese Icing

 

 

For cake

• 2cupsall-purpose flour
• 2teaspoonsbaking powder
• 1/2teaspoonbaking soda
• 1/2teaspoonsalt
• 3/4teaspooncinnamon
• 1/2teaspoonground ginger
• 1/8teaspoonground cloves
• 1stick unsalted butter, softened
• 1cuppacked light brown sugar
• 1teaspoonpure vanilla extract
• 2large eggs
• 1 1/2cupsunsweetened applesauce
• 1/2cupwalnuts (optional), toasted (see Tips), cooled, and chopped

For frosting

• 5ozcream cheese, softened
• 3tablespoonsunsalted butter, softened
• 1/4teaspoonpure vanilla extract
• 1cupconfectioners sugar
• 1/2teaspooncinnamon

• Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle. Butter an 8- or 9-inch square cake pan.

Make cake:

• Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices.
• Beat butter, brown sugar, and vanilla with an electric mixer at high speed until pale and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition, then beat in applesauce. At low speed, mix in flour mixture until just combined, then stir in walnuts (if using).
• Spread batter evenly in pan and bake until golden-brown and a wooden pick inserted into center comes out clean, 40 to 45 minutes. Cool in pan 15 minutes. Run a knife around edge of cake to loosen, then invert onto a plate. Reinvert cake onto a rack to cool completely.

Make frosting:

• Beat cream cheese, butter, and vanilla with an electric mixer at high speed until fluffy. Sift confectioners sugar and cinnamon over cream cheese mixture, then beat at medium speed until incorporated.
• Spread frosting over top of cooled cake.

 

recipe source gourmet