Applesauce Snack Cake

After looking high and low for the perfect applesauce cake recipe, I went back to my trusty cookbook, The Lady & Sons Just Desserts, and knew I couldn't get any better. Miss Paula uses shortening for the most amazing crumb. I opted to leave out the ground cloves and raisins, since my step-dad, Burl, doesn't much care for either. You simply won't be able to wait for dessert once you catch a whiff of this goody baking in the oven, though... so I'm calling it snack cake. Miss Paula suggests you serve this with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and who am I to disagree.

Applesauce Snack Cake

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup vegetable shortening
2 eggs
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, freshly grated
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup chopped nuts (such as black walnuts)
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
Powdered sugar (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 13 by 9 pan or line a muffin tin; set aside.

Sift together flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking powder and salt.

Using a mixer, cream shortening and sugar until creamy. Add eggs, beating thoroughly. Add flour mixture and applesauce alternately to creamed mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Stir in nuts. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake 13 by 9 cake for approximately 45 minutes or until center is firm to the touch. For muffins, bake approximately 20 to 22 minutes (makes about 16). Sprinkle with powdered sugar, if desired, before serving.