Chocolate Chip Applesauce Cake

At last, an easy-to-make "scratch" cake recipe that does not need frosting! Recipe has been modified from one given to me by a friend years ago... 6/30/07 NOTE: This is not a standard chocolate cake recipe nor a spice cake recipe. The cocoa and chocolate chips help add to the "dark chocolaty" flavor and appearance but the applesauce and spices give it a unique flavor addition, producing a dark, moist cake with a different flavor with the added bonus of being a no-frost cake.

• Ready In: 40 mins
• Serves: 12
• Yields: 1 cake

Ingredients

• 1⁄2 cup  oil
• 1 1⁄2 cups sugar
• 2  eggs, beaten
• 2  cups flour
• 1⁄2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 2  cups applesauce
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons baking soda
• 4  tablespoons  cocoa
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons sugar
• 1⁄2 cup  nuts, chopped
• 3⁄4 cup chocolate chips

Directions

1. Grease and flour a 13x 9" baking pan.
2. In large mixing bowl, mix oil and 1 1/2 c sugar.
3. Add beaten eggs, flour (no need to sift), cinnamon, salt, applesauce, baking soda and cocoa and mix until well-blended.
4. Pour into pan and sprinkle with 1 1/2 T sugar, nuts (chopped walnuts or pecans) and 3/4 C chocolate chips.
5. Bake at 350 dg. for 30-40 mins, until top springs back when touched, covering with foil if top gets too brown.
6. Moist and delicious!