Apple Sauce Cake

This is a moist old-fashioned cake that is full of goodness. If you are going to enjoy baking, its always better home made. When it’s really cold outside, it’s so nice to turn on the oven and do some baking. Apples contain malic acid and tartaric acid which is known to help cleanse the liver of toxins, and pectin which also aids in the removal of toxins from our bodies. One apple supplies 30 percent of the daily recommend amount of fiber. Apples are shown to help regulate blood sugar, and to reduce fat in the blood. Regular intake of apples has shown to reduce both total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. Researchers have also found a link in the consumption of apples and the protection of the lungs, particularly from lung cancer and asthma. Raisins add natural sweetness, and heart healthy resveratrol. Butter is a natural source of butyric acid which aids in gut, digestion and immune health. Brown sugar contains the nutrients and minerals found in molasses, plus it adds a nice caramel flavour. All the warming spices have their own benefits, cinnamon helps to balance blood sugar, ginger is anti-inflammatory and cloves are anti fungal. I always tend to use unbleached flour, organic, if possible, to eliminate the bleach in white flour, which can be damaging to our gut microbiome, which is part of our immune system. I hope you enjoy this special little cake perfect for winter.

Apple Sauce Cake

1/3 cup raisins

1/4 cup water

1/2 cup butter, room temperature

1/2 cup brown sugar, loosely packed

1 egg

1 cup applesauce, unsweetened

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 teaspoon ginger

1/4 teaspoon cloves

1/2 teaspoon ginger

1 cup unbleached flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

In a small pot boil the raisins and water covered, until the water is absorbed. Remove from heat to cool. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter an 8 x 8 inch baking pan. In a mixing bowl, beat the sugar and butter until creamy, beat in the egg, spices and vanilla. Stir in the applesauce, Sprinkle the batter with the flour and baking powder and stir in, until just combined. Stir in the raisins. Do not over stir. Pour the mixture into the baking pan and bake for 22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean. Ice with cream cheese icing

Cream Cheese Icing

1/4 brick cream cheese, softened

1 tablespoon butter, softened

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 – 3 teaspoons cream

1 cup icing sugar

Beat the cream cheese, butter and 2 teaspoons of cream together, beat in the icing sugar and vanilla. If the icing is too thick, add the additional teaspoon of cream. Spead on a cooled Apple Sauce Cake