Applesauce Spice Cake

I used to think applesauce cake was nothing special but times have changed and I have learned that it can be part of a wonderful cake, like this applesauce spice cake.  Of course, using applesauce means I can cut down on the fat, in the cake and I love that.  I also love brown sugar in anything.  The fragrance of brown sugar is intoxicating.   Often, when there are two sugars in a recipe, white and brown, I trade off the amounts so that there is more brown than white.  This one came that way.

Applesauce Spice Cake                                                                 

Ingredients:

1 cup golden raisins

1 teaspoon rum extract

2/3 cup granulated sugar

1 cup packed brown sugar

1/3 cup Canola oil

11/2 cup unsweetened applesauce


1 egg

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

3 cups gluten free flour mixture

2 teaspoons baking soda

2 teaspoons cinnamon

2 teaspoons nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup chopped pecans

Method:

Grease a bundt pan.  Make sure to butter the sides and the bottom of the pans and then flour both pans and tap out excess flour over the sink. 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

Place granulated sugar, brown sugar, butter and apple sauce in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment.  Cream together and add egg and vanilla and then mix again.

In a separate bowl sift together flour through salt.  Dump half of the flour mixture into the wet mixture and combine.  Then add the other half of the flour mixture.  Combine again. 

Add raisins and chopped pecans to batter and incorporate into the batter.  Pour the batter evenly into the prepared cake pans and bake for 30-35 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

The glaze, I made for this cake, is a honey caramel glaze.  This set the cake off perfectly and it is a glaze, I plan to use often.  Not heavy in taste but subtle and yet rich.

Honey Caramel Glaze

1/3 cup brown sugar

3 tablespoons heavy cream

3 tablespoons honey

2 tablespoons cold margarine, cut into one half inch pieces

1/4 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

Method:

In a small saucepan, over medium heat, bring the brown sugar, honey, margarine and cream to a boil.  Cook for 30 seconds and remove from heat.  Stir in lemon juice and let cool slightly.  Pour over cake and enjoy.  (the Sweet Melissa Baking Book)

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