Valentine's Applesauce Cake

YESsssss! Another excuse to bake. Today also happens to be my dad's birthday. He doesn't care much for chocolates, buttercreams, cakes, tarts, cookies or pies. I'll be damned if my dad doesn't get to blow out candles on .. some type of baked good. Here goes nothing ...

Happy 21st birthday Dad!


*my genius of a brother didn't wait for the cake to cool before sticking in the candles. He didn't believe that the candle wax would melt in the cake that had yet to be cooled. We ended up wrapping the candles in foil..

The cake was delicious. Dense, but delicious.

Applesauce Cake
Adapted from the Joy of Cooking Cookbook

1 3/4 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground all spice*
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg*
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
1 cup white or packed light brown sugar (I used 3/4 cup brown sugar to bring out the spice and 1/4 cup white sugar)
1 large egg
1 cup lightly sweetened or unsweetened thickened applesauce
1 cup finely chopped walnuts or pecans*
1 cup raisins or dried currants*

Topped with:
Quick Brown Butter Frosting
Butter, vanilla and sifted confectioners sugar

Make sure all ingredients are at room temperature
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F, line 8x8 cake pan with parchment or wax paper
2. Whisk together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, allspice, nutmeg and salt
3. In another bowl, beat butter until creamy, 30 seconds
4. Gradually beat in sugar on high speed until lightened in color
5. Beat in egg
6. On low speed, add flour mixture in three parts, alternating with applesauce. Make sure to scrape the sides
7. Stir in raisins and nuts
8. Scrape the batter into pan and spread evenly
9. Bake for 25-30 min or until toothpick pulls clear
10. Cool on rack and top with quick butter brown frosting

*optional