Monday, January 31, 2011

Weekend Treats: Applesauce Cake


This applesauce cake is perfect on a weekend when all you want to do is burrow into the couch with dessert and a cup of tea. It has that rustic look and taste, more like a bread than a cake, and it's one of those sweets that can totally pass as breakfast. I added chopped pecans to mine because why not and dusted it with powdered sugar to make it a little bit fancy.


Applesauce Cake
Recipe courtesy of Everyday Food

1/2 cup vegetable oil, plus more for cake pan
3 large apples, peeled, cored, quartered, and cut into chunks
1/2 cup light-brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon coarse salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground c innamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
chopped walnuts or pecans, if desired
confectioners' sugar (optional), for serving


Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly oil an 8-inch round cake pan. In a medium saucepan, bring apples and 1/4 cup water to a simmer over high. Cover, reduce heat to medium, and cook until apples are very tender, 12 minutes. Mash apples with a whisk, stirring to dry mixture slightly, 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Whisk brown sugar into apples, then oil. Whisk in eggs, then flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and chopped nuts. Transfer batter to pan and bake until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Let cool in pan on a wire rack 20 minutes. Invert and let cake cool on rack. To serve, dust top with confectioners' sugar if desired. Serves 8.

24 comments:

  1. looks like the perfect comfort food! i always say, "when in doubt, powdered sugar on top". it really does make dessert look ten times fancier!

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  2. this is totally the kind of thing i've been craving lately. love the powdered sugar touch!

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  3. That sounds delicious! I was searching for some vegan recipes for a house guest last summer and I came across a few applesauce desserts but none looked as yummy as this! I must try soon!

    *kate

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  4. Looks great. I would love to have a piece with my coffee right now! : )

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  5. One of my best friends got me a small cake pan from Williams Sonoma for Christmas. I think its time I use it. I love apple pie & apple sauce cake!! =) *bookmark*

    Melanie's Randomness

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  6. This is so going next on my list. There's nothing like a cake that I can pretend is a breakfast food.

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  7. Oh, that looks amazing. There's something about an everyday cake like that that is just such a treat, no?

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  8. Yummy!!! This sounds delicious and I have a boatload of apples I need to use quickly!

    Have a great week!

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  9. Scrumptious! The powdered sugar was a nice touch!

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  10. -i just printed this, it looks so good! can't wait to try it!
    thanks for sharing.

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  11. You and all your cakes and pies!! You are the perfect hostess! Thanks for the recipe! And I love all cakes sprinkled with powered sugar! xo Samantha

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  12. This looks so great - I'm totally salivating!

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  13. This sounds amazing, what a delicious combination of flavors!

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  14. That looks so delightful! I have to try it! :)

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  15. there's a certain little crumb in my house who LOVES apples...this is going to be made this week!

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  16. Great photos. Looks inviting and delicious.... My thighs however do not thank you... =)

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  17. wow! the description makes it sound so inviting...my husband is a sucker for applesauce, so maybe this will be on our Valentine's menu ;) thanks for sharing! xoxo {av}

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  18. You've done it again! Saw this when I woke up and it's now baking in the oven making my house smell awesome! It was the perfect cozy activity this afternoon for the extremely cold + dreary day we're having. Can't wait to try it. Thank you!!

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