Johnny Appleseed Applesauce Snack Cake
This applesauce snack cake was one of the only cakes I remember my mom making when I was little. She would make us elaborate birthday cakes with homemade buttercream, or this simple but delicious snack cake. I'm sure she made other cakes, but this one stuck out in my memory. I was always excited each fall when she made her first apple cake of the season. As a child I remember sneaking into the kitchen and sneaking little bites. The ingredient list is small and the cake tastes even better the next day. I hadn't had it in years, but recently my sister mentioned it and I knew I had to make a gluten free version. I also made it dairy free so that more friends could enjoy it. I always loved the name too, I have fond memories of reading stories about Johnny Appleseed as a child.
Applesauce Snack Cake
Ingredients
1/2 cup refined coconut oil ( refined so it doesn't taste like coconut, or butter) melted
1 3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 cup granulated sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1 tsp baking soda
1/8 tsp salt
2 cups of Bob's Red Mill 1 to 1 Gluten Free Flour
(optional 1 cup of raisins, I leave these out usually)
Directions
1) Pre-heat oven to 350 and grease a 9x13 pan with cooking spray or coconut oil.
2) In a large bowl add the melted coconut oil, applesauce, and sugar and whisk well to combine. You will want to make sure to use refined coconut oil so that it doesn't have a strong coconut taste. Trader Joe's and Simple Truth brand from Kroger carry this.
3) Add the cinnamon, cloves, baking soda, salt, and gluten free flour. Stir well to combine all ingredients. If adding raisins gently stir in at this point.
4) Pour the mixture into the greased pan and bake for 30-35 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
Enjoy!
This will keep at room temperature for 4 days or in the freezer for 3 months so you can grab a piece when you are craving it!
I think the cake tastes even better the second and third day as it becomes more moist as it sits with all the applesauce in it.