1930's Applesauce Cake (Depression Era Cake)

⏱ 70 mins 🍽 1 cake, 10 serving(s) 🏷 Dessert

This historic cake, also known as Poor Man's Cake, originates from the 1930s and uses just one tablespoon of butter with no eggs. It is a reduced-fat option that gets its moisture from applesauce or a coffee substitute. The spiced batter bakes into a simple, comforting dessert that offers a taste of culinary history from a bygone era.

1930's Applesauce Cake (Depression Era Cake)

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon butter or 1 tablespoon margarine
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup corn syrup, dark
  • 2 cups flour, all purpose
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon, ground
  • 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, ground
  • 1/2 teaspoon clove, ground
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 2/3 cup applesauce (or substitute cold coffee in equal amount)

Method

  1. In a large bowl, cream the butter with the sugar, then mix in the corn syrup and set this aside. Separately, sift the flour with the cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves.
  2. Dissolve the baking soda into the applesauce. If using coffee instead, dissolve it in that. Add the sifted flour mixture and the applesauce mixture to the creamed ingredients, alternating between them.
  3. Transfer the batter to a greased 13X9-inch pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 to 50 minutes, until a test shows the cake is done.

Nutrition (per serving)

Sodium139900 mg

Recipe details

CategoryDessert
Authorlynnski LA