Applesauce Spice Cake

We had some friends over for the NFC championship game yesterday (SO sad that our Falcons lost!) and we had a huge spread of food: chili, buffalo chicken dip, ham & cheese bites, veggies, strawberry pudding trifle, and this applesauce spice cake. I asked my friend Amanda if I could share the recipe for this cake that she brought, it was amazing! 

The original recipe calls for buttermilk but my friend used applesauce to reduce the amount of buttermilk that goes into the cake. She topped it with a cream cheese frosting that went perfectly with the cinnamon-y flavor. It was so moist and flavorful, you'll love it!

Applesauce Spice Cake
Recipe via bhg.com

Ingredients:
1/4 cup butter
2 eggs
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 cup shortening
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup buttermilk 
1 cup applesauce 

Directions: 

1. Allow butter and eggs to stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, grease and lightly flour one 13x9 inch baking pan; set pan aside. In a medium bowl stir together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger; set aside. 

2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large mixing bowl beat butter and shortening with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add sugar and vanilla; beat until well combined. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Alternately add flour mixture and buttermilk/applesauce to butter mixture, beating on low speed after each addition just until combined. Pour into prepared pan.
3. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes for the 13x9 inch pan, or until a wooden toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Place 13x9 inch cake in pan on a wire rack; cool thoroughly. Frost with desired frosting.