As I’ve mentioned before, I have apple trees that grow in my back yard. They are cooking apples more than eating apples, and I have way more than I’d ever know what to do with. I’ve given some to my neighbours and some to Mr P’s parents, but the truth is, I could probably stock my whole neighbourhood in cooking apples if I wanted to. There is just too much. Unfortunately, the apple trees do not have an off button, and so little apples keep falling from the trees, and sit on the grass waiting… they look sad and unloved. Me being me, I feel like I absolutely must use them, so I keep making applesauce. Loads and loads of applesauce. But let me tell you a little secret, I don’t really eat much applesauce. So instead I’ve been looking for recipes that use applesauce in the ingredients list. The following is one of those recipes.
Applesauce Spice Cake
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 stick unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 1 1/2 cups unsweetened applesauce
- 1/2 cup walnuts (optional), toasted
- powdered sugar for dusting the top
Preheat the oven to 350°F with rack in middle. Butter an 8- or 9-inch square cake pan.
Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices.
Beat butter, brown sugar, and vanilla with an electric mixer at high speed until pale and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition, then beat in applesauce. At low speed, mix in flour mixture until just combined, then stir in walnuts (if using).
Spread batter evenly in pan and bake until golden-brown and a wooden pick inserted into center comes out clean, 40 to 45 minutes. Cool in pan 15 minutes. Run a knife around edge of cake to loosen, then invert onto a plate. Reinvert cake onto a rack to cool completely. Once cooled, sprinkle with powdered sugar.
Now the truth is, this recipe didn’t come out according to plan. You see, this cake is actually supposed to be slathered in an indulgent cream cheese frosting (here is the the original recipe I was trying to make). I did actually make the frosting, and for some strange reason, instead of being rich, creamy and slightly fluffy, it was drippy and soupy 
. I used a new kind of cream cheese. I’m sure that was why it didn’t turn out right (it couldn’t possibly have been my fault, after all). Like the apples that sit on the grass, the wretched frosting was mocking me. The cake was perfectly lovely with just a sprinkling of powdered sugar… but… well… I wasn’t satisfied. I wanted the whole shebang, ya know?
Then, it happened. Something rare indeed. I had… wait for it… an idea LOL. I decided I’d crumble up my cake into little itty bittys (throwing out any harder bits from the top and the sides of the cake) and I mixed it with just enough of the drippy frosting to make cake balls. Let me just tell you those cake balls came out damn fine 
. I think i preferred them to the original idea of the cake with the frosting. I formed the cake balls, let them sit in the fridge to chill, and then dipped them in a bath of chocolate (200g). Then I sprinkled or rolled them into some hazelnuts. I was very happy with the results. If you ever have a cake debacle, cake balls are your answer.
you are flippin’ genius. i’ve never even heard of cake balls, but i already know i’d be all over that. it’s like i always say: adding chocolate fixes everything.
Lovely
as always !
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I love a good moist apple cake but have never made one myself. Sometimes cream cheese frosting goes too gloopy if you beat it too much.
love the squares as well as the cake balls. clever idea, sweetie! take pics and show me your apple trees…i will be so envious but in a good way of course
You balls look delightful HH & I don’t just say that to everyone! I’ve never tried making or eating cake balls but I’m ready to give it a go. I trust you implicitly
I miss having an apple tree, makes me think of home.
Hope all is very ..very well my dear?
Hugs x
You already had me at that perfect, gorgeous apple cake which my own man would go nuts over sans gooey frosting. But the chocolate covered cake balls are so absolutely WOW! Who needs an apple tree with an off button when we can just have you making these over and over again? xoxo
Lovin’ the cake balls and the lovely leaf in the background too. I came across apple sauce tart on a blog recently, I had never heard of that before either.
cake balls, how genius…of course it wasn’t your fault dearie..damm that cheese..lol I think the outcame was e ven better..wonderfully yummy pics
sweetlife
I love apple spice cake and I love cake balls! I wish you could throw me a few of those tasty critters!
You’re so creative! What a great way to make use of that runny frosting. The cake looks very light and delicious!
Delicious looking cake! Can’t go wrong with apple spice cake!
Bravo! I like your way of thinking – cake balls are so much more fun to eat than your first idea.
Think I’ll try an applesauce cake for Thanksgiving.
Thanks for this nice blog. My first visit,
yvonne
I hate it when my food mocks me. Looks like you taught it a lesson. I’ll have to remember disappointing cake = fabulous cake balls. Although the cake looks mighty fine to me.
Another super, delish recipe from super HH!
Still so super busy! It’s all go!!
*Hugs*
Lola & Nora:)
Now thats pretty darn brilliant HH, awesome idea and these little cake pops looks wonderful. Excellent idea.
That’s is what I call a resourceful woman !!! Great job!
Love the presentation. The cake looks delicious. Lovely tips and nice read. Take care.
Your cake & cake balls look so festive. i also prefer the lovely chocolate & nuts covered cake balls!! oooh yes!
I also tagged you @ my latest post with 10 culinary questions!! Come over & check it out, my lovely one!
Good job!
These little balls are actually the rage, these days – but, of course, you know that as you are always on top of “what is in”!
In one of my CIN (christmas in november) sessions, there was a class on making them as well as other things. Have you ever thought of making apple butter? I love that and there was a recipe from Michael and Anna Olsen (a famous Canadian Chef couple on the Food TV Network) for cheese galettes in one of the sessions I attended that I will post next. It has apples, and apple butter and then cheese in it and is really delicious… and savoury. Surprisingly savoury.
Valerie
Sometimes frosting is too much of a good thing. It’s how I feel about cupcakes. I’m not a fan of the ones that have a huge mound of the stuff. A little sweetness goes a long way. I would prefer the powdered sugar on this cake, just like you did.
Oh, how lucky you are that you have apple trees in your backyard! I’d be jumping for joy, dancing around the trunks, gathering apples in my apron. Ok, a little overdone and not entirely true, but I AM going to make that beautiful apple spice cake for sure..with store bought apples LOL Love the cake balls too! Decadent!
Oh I’m a cake ball fan, big time. Recent overflowing chocolate cake batter turned crisp cake bits went to cake truffles, with a touch of rum to bind. Love your autumnal photos!
Many a “not so perfect” cakes I could made into balls….genius!