Born during the Great Depression, when butter and eggs were too expensive to spare — a one-bowl cake so moist and flavorful that families kept making it long after hard times ended.
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour, 1 cup sugar
- 2 cups applesauce (replacing butter and eggs)
- 1 teaspoon each cinnamon, cloves, allspice, and a pinch of black pepper
- 1 cup raisins, 1 cup walnuts
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
Method
- Combine flour, sugar, spices, and baking soda in one bowl.
- Stir in applesauce until just combined, then fold in raisins and walnuts.
- Pour into a greased pan and bake at 350°F for about 45 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.
Finish with a caramel glaze or a dusting of powdered sugar. The applesauce keeps this cake moist for days with no refrigeration needed — and the flavor actually improves overnight.
Love this one? Get all 45 in our 45 Amish Recipes Digital Cookbook.