Applesauce Spice Cake

Last fall I canned a bunch of applesauce - aside from how yummy it is to eat straight out of the jar, I love using it in baking.  It adds a lot of moisture to cakes and also reduces fat (by removing the need for oil) without removing flavor.  This recipe is one of my favorite ways to use it! :)  I then topped off the cupcake version with Penuche frosting!

Enjoy!

Applesauce Spice Cake

3 Cups Flour
2 1/4 Tsp Baking Powder
1 Tsp Salt
3/4 Tsp Baking Soda
3/4 Tsp Cinnamon, ground
1/2 Tsp Ginger, ground
1/4 Tsp Allspice, ground
1/4 Tsp Nutmeg, ground
3/4 Cup Butter, Softened
1 1/2 Cups Brown Sugar, Packed
3 Large Eggs
1 Tsp Vanilla
1 1/2 Cups Applesauce, unsweetened
1/3 Cup Buttermilk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease and flour 9"x13" pan.

In medium bowl whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, and nutmeg - set aside.

In large bowl, cream butter and brown sugar until fluffy.  Beat in eggs, one at a time.  Then, add vanilla.

Next, stir flour mixture into butter mixture, alternating with applesauce and buttermilk - making 3 additions of dry ingredients and 2 of wet ingredients.  Spread into prepared pan.

Bake for approximately 30-35 minutes or until cake tester comes out clean from center.  Let cool in pan on rack.

Note: Recipe yields approximately 30 cupcakes - bake for 15-20 minutes (don't overbake).