Triple layer Applesauce Cake

Who says a birthday cake
has to be the traditional white frosting
with yellow or blue roses?

Of course,
I do love a traditional cake
as I am a traditional kind of girl
...but there is ALWAYS room
for something new
in my tattered old recipe box.

I've made many birthday cakes over the past few months
...all of the them the non traditional variety.
My latest was no exception...
a towering, triple layer Applesauce Cake.

The batter boasts a whopping 3 cups of applesauce
making this cake supremely moist!
Spicy undertones of cinnamon, nutmeg and clove
conjure up warm memories of golden autumn afternoons.



No matter we are smack dab in the middle of summer...
every bite will have you droopy eyed and smiling
on the hottest of summer days.

The sweetened whipped cream,
kissed with just the right amount of cinnamon
marries the rustic flavors
of apple, sugar and butter
found in the cake.



What a treat this would be
at backyard picnic
amongst family and friends.

You'd better bring copies of the recipe though...
as I'm sure there will be many requests!

TRIPLE LAYER APPLESAUCE CAKE

3 C FLOUR
3 TSP. BAKING SODA
1 1/2 TSP. BAKING POWDER
3/4 TSP. GROUND CINNAMON
3/4 TSP. GROUND NUTMEG
1/4 TSP. GROUND CLOVES
3/4 C. UNSALTED BUTTER (SOFTENED)
1 1/2 C. SUGAR
2 EGGS
3 TSP. VANILLA
3 C. UNSWEETENED APPLESAUCE

CINNAMON WHIPPED CREAM

2 C. HEAVY WHIPPING CREAM
3/4 C. POWDERED SUGAR
1 TSP. GROUND CINNAMON
1/2 TSP. VANILLA EXTRACT

DIRECTIONS FOR CAKE: PREHEAT OVEN TO 350 DEGREES. SPRAY THREE, 9 INCH CAKE PANS WITH NON STICK COOKING SPRAY. DUST WITH FLOUR. IN MEDIUM BOWL, COMBINE FLOUR, BAKING SODA, BAKING POWDER, CINNAMON, NUTMEG AND CLOVES. SET ASIDE. BEAT BUTTER WITH MIXER FOR 1 MINUTE. ADD SUGAR, BEAT. ADD EGGS AND VANILLA AND BEAT FOR 2 MINUTES. REDUCE SPEED TO LOW AND ADD FLOUR MIXTURE BY THIRDS ALTERNATING WITH ADDING THE APPLESAUCE. BEGIN AND END WITH THE FLOUR MIXTURE. DIVIDE BATTER AMONGST THE 3 CAKE PANS AND BAKE FOR 35-40 MINUTES. COOL IN PANS AND INVERT CAKES ON BAKING RACK TO CONTINUE TO COOL.

WHEN CAKE IS COMPLETELY COOL, PREPARE CINNAMON WHIPPED CREAM. COMBINE HEAVY CREAM, POWDERED SUGAR, CINNAMON AND VANILLA EXTRACT IN MIXER BOWL. BEAT ALL TOGETHER ON MEDIUM-HIGH SPEED UNTIL STIFF PEAKS FORM. DO NOT OVER BEAT. FROST AND STACK ALL THREE LAYERS.

Enjoy!