Applesauce With Cranberry Loaf Cake

HokiesLady's Note:

Base recipe was found in the All You Magazine but I've tweaked it to make it my own. This is a full flavored cake with a lemony glaze topping which I found to take this cake just over the top of expectations. Of course you can omit the glaze and just serve as a loaf cake for breakfast. The original recipe does not include nuts but I really enjoyed it with some chopped walnuts so I've placed that as optional to this recipe. It also called for raisins but I used Craisins instead. Please note it is very important to use a thicker applesauce for this recipe - using a thin commercial canned sauce can cause the batter to become too thin and not allow the cake loaf to rise properly while baking.

• Total Time: 55 mins
• Prep Time: 10 mins
• Cook Time: 45 mins

Ingredients:

Serves: 8

Yield: 1.0 loaf

LOAF CAKE

• 8 tablespoons unsalted butter , room temperature
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 large egg , at room temperature
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup thick unsweetened applesauce
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
• ¼-½ teaspoon nutmeg
• ½ cup craisins (dried cranberries or use raisins)
• ½ cup walnuts , finely chopped

GLAZE

• 6 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 2 cups confectioners' sugar

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350F and prepare a 9x5 inch loaf pan with butter (or cooking spray) and then line bottom of loaf pan with parchment and butter the paper.
2. Beat butter and sugar with a mixer until light and fluffy. Beat in egg.
3. Stir baking soda into applesauce.
4. Mix dry ingredients, theen add to butter mixture in 3 additions, alternating with applesauce.
5. Stir in Craisins (and walnuts if using).
6. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 45-50 minutes (or until toothpick test passes).
7. Cool in pan on a wire rack for 10-15 minutes then turn out onto rack.
8. Make glaze by mixing lemon juice and confectioner's sugar and spoon glaze over cooled cake (this step is optional if you are not using it as a dessert).

Reviews

[Annacia]

My apologies Hokies for, once again, adapting your lovely recipe to our diabetic needs. I used 50% white and 50% whole wheat flours, used a little over 1/3 cup of margarine, subbed Splenda for the sugar. I also made cupcakes/muffins as we can never finish a whole loaf of anything before it begins to grow cultures. The smaller portions go into the freezer to be used when we want them with no worries. The flavor is nicely apple spice and the texture is just lovely. Try this with Earl Gray tea! :D. Made for Photo Tag.

[Sydney Mike]

OUTSTANDING CAKE, this is! I used some slightly chunky homemade applesauce & the dried cranberries, & those along with the lemon flavor was so nice! Thanks for posting! [Tagged, made & reviewed in Newest Zaar tag]

[LARavenscroft]

This is a very yummy bread! Nice combination of flavors - love the tart sweet taste of the craisins and the crunch of the walnuts. Was able to easily convert this to gluten free by subbing a GF flour mix and also adding 2 T ground flax seed (a common practice of mine in all my baked goods). I did not add the glaze as we are trying to watch our sugar intake. Thanks for posting this Hokies! Made for Potluck Tag.