Holiday Applesauce Cake
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© The Food Network
Allspice. Cloves. Raisins. Pecans. Nuts and fruit. Around holiday time, these flavors start speaking to me. I think about them. I smell them. I taste them. I hear them urging me to use them in this delicious applesauce cake. This conversation between me and the sweeter things in life began when I was growing up. In addition to her Christmas cookies, my mom made this cake every time the holidays rolled around. I thought the inclusion of applesauce, one of my favorite sides at dinnertime, in a dessert was ingenious. For me, this cake has wonderful, warm memories, and it’s provided the same to Tom’s and my children. Now, it’s part of our family holiday tradition. In a pinch, this is a special homemade gift to take to a festive potluck party.
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 12-cup Bundt pan with baking spray. Beat the sugar and butter with an electric mixer at medium speed until light and fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Whisk together the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, allspice, salt, and cloves. Add the flour mixture and the applesauce alternately to the sugar mixture, beginning and ending with the flour mixture; beat at low speed until blended after each addition. Stir in the raisins and pecans. Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
2. Bake until a long wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 55 minutes. Cool in the pan about 10 minutes; remove from the pan, and cool completely on a wire rack. Dust the cake lightly with the powdered sugar before serving.
Ingredients
2 cups packed light brown sugar
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
3 large eggs
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground allspice
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1⁄2 teaspoon ground cloves
1 cup unsweetened applesauce 3/4 cup raisins
1⁄2 cup chopped toasted pecans
Powdered sugar
serving size
12 People
Hands on time
20 Minutes
Total time
1 Hour, 25 Minutes