It’s time to be thinking about holiday baking for Christmas! This is always a fun time for many who enjoy baking, particularly whenever children are home. Children like to help in the kitchen and it’s always a great way to build memories that last a lifetime here at the holiday season.
Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without something chocolate at home. If you enjoy chocolate, along with spices such as cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg, here’s a holiday treat for you! “Chocolate Applesauce Cake” is a chocolaty and spicy cake that made moist with applesauce! This is a different way to have a good applesauce cake. This also makes a large cake, so you’ll have plenty to go around when you have company coming to your home or you are to take a dessert to a Christmas gathering.
When you look at the recipe, you’ll see that it calls for only 1 square of baking chocolate. When I first made this cake, I honestly thought this was an error in the recipe. But, as it turns out, one square is enough to make this a chocolate flavored cake. You’ll also see that the recipe calls for just one egg. Again, I wondered about that, but the friend who I got this recipe from explained that these measurements of the chocolate and egg were indeed correct.
This recipe is made extra-good with the addition of dates and nuts. This dates give the cake a rather chewy texture and the nuts give it a bit of a crunch. It also smells good while it bakes! It’s then frosted with your favorite chocolate frosting.
Last year, I passed along some recipes for cakes that start off with cake mixes. With the holiday season here, you may find your time limited! If so, take a look at one of these recipes that start off with a cake mix that will go together quickly and easily:
http://rootshed.com/article/short-cut-christmas-baking-with-a-cake-mix
If you or someone you know loves a chocolate and spices, this flavorful combination of chocolate and spices is one you’ll want to make time and again!
CHOCOLATE APPLESAUCE CAKE
- 2 cups applesauce
- 1 square unsweetened chocolate
- 1 cup vegetable shortening
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 egg
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 3 teaspoons baking soda, dissolved in 1 tablespoon hot water
- 3/4 cup chopped nuts
- 3/4 cup chopped dates
Place a small amount of the applesauce in a small saucepan with the square of chocolate. Melt over low heat until chocolate melts. Set aside to cool. Cream the shortening with the sugar until fluffy. Add the egg and the rest of the applesauce, along with the chocolate/applesauce mixture. Mix the dry ingredients and gradually add to the creamed mixture. Add the baking soda and water mixture and mix well. Stir in the nuts and dates by hand. Turn into a greased and floured tube pan and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until cake tests done. Let cool in pan for about ten minutes, then unmold onto a serving plate. Let cool and frost with a favorite chocolate icing.
