Applesauce cake

A slice of applesauce cake with a cinnamon and sugar topping

Applesauce cake is a dessert cake prepared using apple sauce, flour and sugar as primary ingredients. Various spices are typically used, and it tends to be a moist cake. Several additional ingredients may also be used in its preparation, and it is sometimes prepared and served as a coffee cake. The cake dates back to early colonial times in the United States. National Applesauce Cake Day occurs annually on June 6 in the U.S.

History

The preparation of applesauce cake dates back to early colonial times in the New England Colonies of the northeastern United States.[1] From 1900 to the 1950s,[2] recipes for applesauce cake frequently appeared in American cookbooks.[3] In the United States, National Applesauce Cake Day occurs annually on June 6.[4]

Ingredients and preparation

Applesauce cupcakes

Applesauce cake is a dessert cake prepared using apple sauce, flour and sugar as main ingredients. Store-bought or homemade applesauce may be used in its preparation.[5] Additional ingredients include eggs, butter, margarine or oil, raisins, dates, chopped apple, chopped nuts (such as walnuts and pecans), cocoa powder, and spices such as cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and allspice.[1][6][7][8][9][10][11] Some versions include dried or fresh, finely grated ginger.[12][13] After baking, applesauce cake is sometimes topped with an icing,[7] frosting or glaze, such as a caramel glaze.[12][14] It also may be served topped with a dusting of confectioner's sugar[15][16] or whipped cream.[17] Gluten-free applesauce cake can be prepared using rice flour.[18] Egg-free applesauce cake can be made by using an egg substitute.[citation needed]

Applesauce cake tends to be moist due to the liquid content present in the apple sauce.[8] However, using a chunky-style apple sauce can result in a cake with less moisture than from using standard apple-sauce.[19] Letting it sit for one or two days before serving can increase its flavor,[a][b] as this allows time for the ingredients to intermingle within the cake.[citation needed]

It can be prepared using various types of cake pans, such as a ring-shaped bundt cake using a bundt pan,[21][22] in loaf form using a loaf pan, or as a sheet cake with a sheet cake pan.[20] Applesauce cake is sometimes prepared in the form of cupcakes.[13][14]

Variations

Applesauce cake may be prepared and served as a type of coffee cake,[23] which may include a sweet crumb topping.[24] Simple versions may be prepared using prepared coffee cake mix, apple sauce, and other various ingredients.[11] Fruits such as blueberries, cranberries and raisins may also be used in applesauce coffee cake.[25][26][27]

  • A close-up view of applesauce walnut coffee cake
    A close-up view of applesauce walnut coffee cake
  • Applesauce cupcakes with icing
    Applesauce cupcakes with icing

See also

Notes

  1. ^ "Like most cakes of this type, it tastes even better when allowed to sit a day or two, and it will keep well and stay moist for up to a week when wrapped properly."[5]
  2. ^ "... the cake is better after the first day, and keeps well."[20]

References

  1. ^ a b Ojakangas, Beatrice A. (1987). Great Old-Fashioned American Desserts. University of Minnesota Press. p. 239. ISBN 978-1-4529-0711-6.
  2. ^ Knapp, L.; Wyeth, N.C.; Bok, E.W. (1950). Ladies' Home Journal. LHJ Publishing, Incorporated. p. 124.
  3. ^ "Recipes from 1900–1950". Aunt Lil's Kitchen. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  4. ^ Smith, Emily (June 6, 2013). "National applesauce cake day". National applesauce cake day – Eatocracy. CNN. Archived from the original on September 29, 2015. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
  5. ^ a b Rothman, Julie (November 8, 2013). "Applesauce spice cake". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
  6. ^ Gerard, Pat (February 25, 2015). "Recipe: Applesauce Cake". San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
  7. ^ a b Ford, Faith (August 10, 2014). "Applesauce Cake with Caramel Icing". Good Morning America. ABC News. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
  8. ^ a b Great Cakes: Home-baked Creations from the Country Living Kitchen. Country Living Series. Hearst Books. 2008. p. 26. ISBN 978-1-58816-686-9. {{cite book}}: |journal= ignored (help)
  9. ^ Brass, M.; Brass, S.; Ryan, A. (2011). Heirloom Baking with the Brass Sisters: More Than 100 Years of Recipes Discovered and Collected by the Queens of Comfort Food. Hachette Books. p. 30. ISBN 978-1-57912-881-4.
  10. ^ Rogers, A.T.; Egerton, J. (2004). Hungry for Home: Stories of Food from Across the Carolinas with More Than 200 Favorite Recipes. John F. Blair. pp. 202–203. ISBN 978-0-89587-301-9.
  11. ^ a b Brownetone, Cecily (October 10, 1969). "Cooking Is Fun". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
  12. ^ a b McKay, Gretchen (September 26, 2015). "Plate: Pittsburgh food, recipes, restaurants, drinks". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
  13. ^ a b Kerbs, Nicki (December 22, 2015). "Spicy Gingerbread Applesauce Cupcakes". KING-TV. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
  14. ^ a b "Applesauce Cupcakes with Caramel Frosting". WRIC-TV. February 14, 2007. Archived from the original on October 5, 2016. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
  15. ^ Lee, Sandra (November 2, 2013). "Applesauce Cake: Sweet Dreams: Food Network". Food Network. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
  16. ^ Deen, Paula; Zoe, Amy. "Paula Deen's Applesauce Cake". Retrieved September 30, 2015.
  17. ^ Ross, Alicia (April 9, 2013). "Betty's Applesauce Cake is a treasured recipe to one reader". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
  18. ^ Cain, N. (2015). Against the Grain: Extraordinary Gluten-Free Recipes Made from Real, All-Natural Ingredients. Potter/TenSpeed/Harmony. p. 634. ISBN 978-0-385-34556-9.
  19. ^ Magers, M. Pamela (May 1, 2015). "The Best – Chunky applesauce". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
  20. ^ a b Beard, J. (2009). "&pg=PT1648 James Beard's American Cookery. Little, Brown. p. pt163–164. ISBN 978-0-316-06981-6. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
  21. ^ "Applesauce Cake with Caramel Icing". Bristol Herald Courier HeraldCourier.com. September 24, 2015. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
  22. ^ Traverso, A. (2011). The Apple Lover's Cookbook. W. W. Norton. p. 255. ISBN 978-0-393-06599-2.
  23. ^ Platt, Heather (August 2, 2012). "Peter Reinhart's Upcoming Gluten-Free, Sugar-Free Baking Book". LA Weekly. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
  24. ^ Clarkson, Potter; Martha Stewart's Cakes' (September 24, 2013). "Recipe: Applesauce Coffee Cake". San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
  25. ^ Ettinger, J. (2006). Bob's Red Mill Baking Book. Running Press. p. 113. ISBN 978-0-7867-5231-7.
  26. ^ Ridgaway, D. (2011). The Gourmet's Guide to Cooking with Liquors and Spirits: Extraordinary Recipes Made with Vodka, Rum, Whiskey, and More!. Quarry Books. p. 54. ISBN 978-1-61058-101-1.
  27. ^ Kendall, P. (2005). High Altitude Baking: 200 Delicious Recipes & Tips for Perfect High Altitude Cookies, Cakes, Breads & More. 3D PressINC. p. 68. ISBN 978-1-889593-15-9.

Further reading

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Applesauce cakes.