Apples are our favorite.They keep the dr. away, and are also natures toothbrush. But did you know they can also be used as oil, butter and sugar substitutes  in baking. Yesterday we harvested some for our Thanksgiving feast. We are not big on pies, so we make apple cake. And its amazing!

If you are in charge of bringing a desert this Thanksgiving, I highly recommend making our apple cake recipe. It’s guarenteed to be the hit of the party.

• Apple Cake

• 1⁄2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup  sugar
• **Instead of adding sugar and butter, just add 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 cup apple sauce**
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon  baking soda
• 1⁄4 teaspoon  salt
• 1 teaspoon  cinnamon
• 1⁄2 teaspoon  nutmeg
• 1 cup  flour
• 2 granny smith apples, peeled, chopped fine
• 1⁄2 cup chopped pecans

• Caramel sauce

• 1⁄2cup  unsalted butter
• 1 cup minus 1 tbl. brown sugar
• **I use the butter and sugar for the sauce, I’ve never tried subbing applesauce for butter in the sauce**
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1⁄2 cup whipping cream

DIRECTIONS

1. Combine applesauce and egg
2. Add rest of dry ingredients and beat until mixed
3. Fold in apples and pecans (pecans are optional). Pour into greased and floured large round, deep cake pan
4. Bake at 350º for 35-40 minutes
5. Meanwhile, make caramel sauce
6. Caramel sauce: melt butter, brown sugar and salt in pan over low-med heat
7. stir for 2-3 minutes
8. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla and cream
9. Drizzle lots of caramel sauce over cake
10. Sprinkle chopped pecans on top for added YUM!
11. Enjoy- à la mode!

*If you have any questions let me know