Applesauce Cake Days

June 6 annually celebrates National Applesauce Cake Day. This food holiday is a day to enjoy a delicious piece (or two) of the moist and tasty applesauce cake.
In any cake recipe, applesauce may be substituted for the butter or oil for a healthier alternative. It is also said that one-half cup of applesauce may be substituted for one egg in some baking recipes for those who have egg allergies.

The cake:

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground allspice

1/4 teaspoon salt

Pinch of ground cloves

1 stick unsalted butter, softened

1/2 cup light brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar $

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1 large egg, room temperature $

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1 cup applesauce, room temperature $

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1 cup chopped walnuts

3/4 cup raisins

The frosting:

6 ounces cream cheese, softened $

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3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

3/4 cup confectioners' sugar

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter an 8-inch square metal baking pan and lightly dust with flour, shaking out any excess.
2. In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, allspice, salt and cloves; set aside.
3. Cream butter and sugars in bowl of an electric mixer, beating at high speed until fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add egg and beat well until blended. Mix in applesauce at low speed, then add flour mixture, mixing at low speed until incorporated. Stir in walnuts and raisins. Scrape batter into prepared pan and bake 40 minutes, until cake tester inserted in center comes out clean. Let cake cool completely in pan.
4. Make frosting: Beat cream cheese and butter together until smooth. Add sugar and vanilla extract and mix until blended. Spread frosting on cooled cake and cut into 6 pieces.

All You
NOVEMBER 2005