Recipe: Applesauce Cake

This recipe can also be used to make muffins. Simply reduce the baking time by 15 minutes.

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
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, and nutmeg.
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 trop with confectioners' sugar, if desired.
Makes 6 servings

Martha Stewart Everyday Food, October 2005
www.marthastewart.com/recipe/applesauce-cake