Applesauce Cake with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting

We are one week into November and suddenly everyone is requesting Christmas lists.  Where did the Fall go? I haven't done nearly enough baking with apples. No pumpkin recipes as of yet. But yet I am hankering for some Christmas cookies.  

I tagged this recipe several years ago and it has been on my mind ever since. Yes, I have a "to bake" list a mile long. The bread uses applesauce. Not quite apples but close enough in my book.

Mr. J doesn't like cake but if you disguise it in loaf form he doesn't know the difference. 

The loaf comes together so easily and took little effort to put in the oven. The whole wheat flour makes me feel like I am getting a few extra good things in this cake.  And the cinnamon and nutmeg make the whole house smell warm and inviting. 

If you leave off the frosting this recipe could totally pass for breakfast but who doesn't want a little frosting in their lives. The touch of cinnamon makes everything about this cake even more delicious and special.  It has been two days since I baked this up for a special treat and only two slices remain. 

Applesauce Cake with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting

by Emily Morris, Eat, Live, Run

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Keywords: bake dessert apple cake fall

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Ingredients (1 loaf)

For the Cake:

• 1 cup sugar
• 1 stick butter, softened
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 3 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 1 cup applesauce (unsweetened)

For the Frosting:

• 1/2 stick butter, softened
• 4 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a loaf pan well with cooking spray or butter.

In a stand mixer cream the butter and sugar together on medium high speed until light and fluffy. Add the vanilla and the egg and keep beating until well combined. Scrap down sides of the bowl.

In another bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Add dry ingredients, along with applesauce, to the wet ingredients and beat until combined, about 30 seconds to a minute more.

Spread batter out in greased loaf pan, smooth surface with a rubber spatula, and bake for about 1 hour, until cooked through and golden brown.

To make the icing, cream together the butter and cream cheese until well combined and smooth, then add the powdered sugar and cinnamon. Continue beating on high for 6-8 minutes until light and fluffy. Spread icing on loaf once completely cooled.

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