27
Nov
My father-in-law gave us some cinnamon and cardamom when we were visiting last month, so I decided to make a cake using those spices to bring for Thanksgiving.
I made this delicious Applesauce Cake from MarthaStewart.com. It was a big hit. Everyone was raving about how wonderful it was.
I think this would make a wonderful addition to any holiday meal.
Ingredients
Serves 10
- 3 cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 1/4 teaspoons ground cardamom
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 2 cups packed light-brown sugar
- 1/4 cup honey
- 2 large eggs
- 2 cups Basic Applesauce, or store-bought chunky applesauce
- Nonstick cooking spray
- Confectioners’ sugar, optional
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and cardamom. Set aside.
- In another bowl, with an electric mixer, beat butter, brown sugar, and honey until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until combined. With mixer on low speed, gradually add flour mixture; beat just until combined. Beat in applesauce.
- Generously coat a nonstick 9-inch tube pan with cooking spray. Spoon batter into pan; smooth top. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean (but slightly wet), 50 to 60 minutes.
- Cool on a wire rack 10 minutes. Turn out of pan onto a cutting board or baking sheet; invert cake onto rack, top side up. Cool completely. Dust with confectioners’ sugar before serving, if desired.
I made mine in a Bundt pan, so I did not serve it top side up.
Here is Little E showing off our creation.
. Then, since 
play a prominent role in the story, I will include a set with the gift. Finally, since the main characters, Petra and Calder, eat blue M&Ms when they are trying to figure things out, I am going to buy a large bag of M&Ms, take all the blue ones out, and put them into a clear cellophane bag with a twist tie to include in the gift box.
