APPLESAUCE SPICE CAKE

Applesauce Spice Cake image

Yield Makes 8 to 10 servings

Number Of Ingredients 23

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For cake
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup turbinado sugar such as Sugar in the Raw
1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, softened
2 teaspoons light rum
1 large egg
1 cup plus 1 tablespoon unsweetened applesauce
For icing
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 cup turbinado sugar
6 tablespoons canned evaporated milk
1 teaspoon light rum
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup confectioners sugar
Special Equipment
a 10-inch springform pan (25 cm)

Steps:

Make cake:
Place oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F. Butter pan and set aside.
Whisk together flour, baking soda, spices, and salt in a bowl.
Beat together sugar, butter, and rum with an electric mixer at medium-high speed until combined well, then add egg and beat until pale and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes with a stand mixer or 5 to 6 minutes with a handheld. Reduce speed to low and add dry ingredients, mixing until combined well. Add applesauce and mix until combined well.
Spread batter evenly in springform pan and bake until a wooden pick or skewer comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes.
Cool cake in pan on a rack 10 minutes, then remove side of pan and cool completely.
Make icing:
Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a 1 1/2- to 2-quart heavy saucepan, then add sugar and evaporated milk and simmer, stirring constantly until sugar is dissolved, about 4 minutes.
Remove from heat and whisk in rum, vanilla, salt, and remaining tablespoon butter, then whisk in confectioners sugar 1 tablespoon at a time. Cool to warm, about 20 minutes, then spread over cooled cake.