I decided to turn off the news today. I’m finding the world overly distressing and I realize that shutting my ears doesn’t really solve anything or make the news go away, but I need a temporary respite.
So I’ve been cooking and baking and I have some good news: this Applesauce Cake with Lemon-Cream Cheese Frosting is one of the best cakes I have tasted in a long, long time.
No need to tell me that eating cake and sweets won’t cure the world or that it is unhealthy. I know. But it’s good for the moment. Do try this.
Applesauce Cake with Lemon-Cream Cheese Frosting
2 cups all-purpose flour
1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon grated nutmeg
1-1/2 cups sugar
1-1/2 cups applesauce
1/2 cup butter, slightly softened
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Lemon-Cream Cheese Frosting
Preheat the oven to 350F. Lightly grease a 13”x9” baking pan. Place the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg in a bowl and mix until the ingredients are blended. Set aside. Place the sugar, applesauce, butter, eggs and vanilla extract in the bowl of an electric mixer and beat at medium speed for 2-3 minutes, or until ingredients are moistened. Turn the mixer to medium-high and beat for 3-4 minutes, scraping the bowl occasionally, or until the batter is smooth and uniform. Add the flour mixture and beat at low speed to roughly combine the ingredients, then beat at medium for 2-3 minutes or until the ingredients are smooth and thoroughly blended. Spoon the batter into the prepared pan and bake for about 35 minutes or until a cake tester inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Let the cake cool completely. Frost with Lemon-Cream Cheese Frosting.
Makes 9-12 servings
Lemon-Cream Cheese Frosting
12 ounces cream cheese at room temperature
6 tablespoons butter at room temperature
1-1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon grated fresh lemon zest
Beat the cream cheese, butter, confectioners’ sugar, lemon juice, vanilla extract and lemon zest together at low-medium speed until smooth, creamy and well blended.