Cinnamon Applesauce Cake

Mardi Gras is a pretty big deal around here. Not quite as big as New Orleans, but Galveston does a fine job with the celebration. To celebrate Fat Tuesday yesterday we had a lunch party at work. Seafood Gumbo was served. Traditionally a King cake is served which has a baby inside and whoever gets the baby has to bring the cake next year but also gets good luck the rest of the year. King cakes are usually a sweet roll type of cake in a wreath or braid, but I decided to just do a bundt cake and use the colors (and I tucked the little baby in the bottom after it was baked). Not the best decorated cake, but my coworkers said it was a good cake. Laissez le bon temps rouler (let the good times roll!)

APPLESAUCE CAKE

Cake:
1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 1/2 cups applesauce
1/2 cup chopped toasted pecans

Cream Cheese Frosting:
8 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
2 tablespoons milk
4 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla

Cake: In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter until smooth. Add the sugars and egg; beat until well combined. Stir together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon. Add the flour mixture alternately with applesauce to butter mixture. Stir in nuts. Pour batter into a greased bundt or 13 x 9 inch pan, spreading evenly. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes for 9 x 13 or 40-45 minutes for bundt, or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool in pan on wire rack.

Cream Cheese Frosting: Beat together the cream cheese, milk and vanilla. Gradually add the powdered sugar. Beat until creamy. Spread on cooled cake.