Microwave Applesauce Cake

m f's Note:

I found this recipes in a Microwave cookbook. Its pretty good. Top with Brown Butter Frosting.

• Total Time: 30 mins
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients:

Yield: 1 8x8 lay ...

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2⁄3; cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
• 1⁄3; cup shortening
• ½ cup applesauce
• 2 eggs
• 3 tablespoons milk
• ¼ cup choppednuts or ¼ cup raisins (optional)
• ½ cup graham cracker crumbs

Directions:

1. Put all ingredients in mixing bowl.
2. Blend at low speed, then turn to medium for 2 minutes.
3. Grease a 8x8 glass square cake pan and coat with graham cracker crumbs.
4. Pour in batter.
5. Microwave at 50% power for 6 minutes, rotating 1/4 every 3 minutes.
6. Increase power to High.
7. Microwave 2 to 5 minutes, or until done.
8. The top of the cake will have alittle batter that will seem not to be cooked.
9. Let stand on countertop 5 to 10 minutes.

Reviews

[nethope]

The first time I made this recipe, I thought it was a 4-star recipe (you know, pretty good but no cartwheels). Since I can't follow a recipe, I used cake flour instead of all-purpose, reduced-fat margarine instead of shortening, mashed banana instead of applesauce, yogurt instead of milk, 1/2 cup chocolate chips instead of 1/4 cup raisins, and whole graham crackers instead of crumbs (why make crumbs when the point is to make a bottom layer for the cake?). That time it was a bit overdone for 6 minutes at half power, 4 minutes full power in my 1250-watt microwave. Then it was a hot, hot summer day, I wanted chocolate cake, and I didn't want to get the kitchen hotter. Since it turned out OK despite substitutions the first time, I thought I'd try it again. This time I used cake flour instead of all-purpose flour again, 1/4 cup reduced fat margarine (instead of 1/3 cup shortening), mashed banana instead of applesauce again, no eggs (I just plain forgot), 4 Tbs chocolate soy milk (instead of 3 Tbs milk), I skipped raisins, I added 1/3 cup cocoa powder, and I lined the bottom with whole graham crackers instead of graham cracker crumbs again. I microwaved it for 5 minutes at full power and 2.5 minutes at half power (instead of half power first for the longer time, then a shorter time at full power; oops!). That’s not too close to the original recipe! The verdict is that I need more sugar when I add cocoa powder, and I prefer the texture variation from adding chocolate chips (or raisins or shredded coconut), but it works! I can’t really taste the banana, but that’s fine: it’s in here because I had a black banana that needed to be used and Toddler and I wanted chocolate cake. I've very sensitive to baking powder (it all tastes metallic; even Bakewell Cream tastes funny) unless I make my own on the spot. And now my Baby has allergies to milk, egg, and soy, so I've had to vary it up again. On the third try, I used coconut oil instead of shortening (to avoid milk and soy), I used 1 banana instead of applesauce (to use up a black banana the Toddler didn't eat), skipped the eggs, and 5 Tbs rice milk (to make up for the moisture from the eggs). I added 1/3 cup Special Dark cocoa and sprinkled 1/4 cup chocolate chips on top for the texture I enjoy. Since it's cooler now and I was baking already, I baked it for 30 minutes at 350°F. Again, it was fine. I've made it in a 9x9" pan, an 8" round pan, and a 10x4" loaf pan, all with good results. The reasons why I give it 5 stars instead of 4 stars ... I keep making this recipe! I’m really impressed that I've made so many changes (never once have I followed the original recipe), and it still turned out as a decent cake (I’ve had better chocolate cake before, but not as quickly; plus once I added icing, it seemed a lot closer to any other cake). It doesn't use baking powder. It's really fast to come out of the microwave. So let's see, it's fast, it's nearly bulletproof, I make it often, and it tastes fine. OK, that's a 5-star recipe!