As a young reporter with my local paper I spent a week writing stories each summer at the Butler County Fair in Ohio. I trudged through goat barns and rabbit barns, interviewing kids who were showing their animals. And wrote about prize-winning recipes - like this Best-of-Show Applesauce Cake - from some of the best bakers in the county.
I chronicled fair queens and kings getting crowned. I really developed a deep appreciation for 4-H and the "fair ethos" that gets instilled in everyone. Just a fun, fun time.
It's been years since I've been to a county fair. Perhaps I'll take my kids to one this summer. But it's nice to know some things don't change, one of them, my friend Carmon Hacker's annual prize-winning entries at the fair. She always takes home plenty of ribbons like one year her applesauce cake took the Best in Show category. Man, I really need to stop by her house with a knife and fork and try to beg for a sample. There is some stiff competition at these county fair bake-offs so to take home Best of Show Applesauce Cake this must be some amazing cake.
And now we get to Carmon's prize-winning applesauce cake that is so good it was featured on an episode of the Food Network's Flip My Food with Chef Jeff in 2016
Feast your eyes on this Best-of-Show Applesauce Cake!
So you don't need to have actual apples for this recipe. You use applesauce. You can make your own homemade applesauce or "cheat" and use it out of a jar. But either way, the applesauce and buttermilk work their magic and give this cake some super flavor!
Applesauce cakes, by the way, are popular in Amish kitchens. This recipe might be a little high-end. There are simpler versions. But this one is best of show!
Three layers of frosting on this amazingness. I mean, I love one layer of frosting. But three? Yeah, this cake would be gone in about a day if it were under my supervision! Holy cow!
SIGH, my only quibble with the recipe is the raisins. Why, oh why, do people take perfectly good recipes and dump raisins in them?? Why? I like almost any food on the planet, but raisins? What is the point? Carmon, though, does insist that they enhance the flavor so, well, go for it. But I'd leave them out....
Here is the recipe for Best-of-Show Applesauce Cake, and thanks to Carmon for sharing it with us!
🍰 Applesauce Cake Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon each baking powder, baking soda and salt
- ¾ tsp. cinnamon
- 2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup butter-flavored Crisco
- 1 cup each applesauce and buttermilk
- ½ cup each chopped walnuts and raisins
📋 Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F.
- Grease and flour 3 8-inch cake pans.
- Measure all ingredients except walnuts and raisins into large mixing bowl.
- Combine on low speed for 1 minute.
- Beat at medium speed for 3 minutes, being sure to scrape sides of bowl as you mix.
- Fold in walnuts and raisins.
- Distribute as evenly as possible in 3 prepared cake pans.
- Bake first two layers together, for about 25 minutes, just until center springs back when touched lightly with finger.
- Then bake third layer by itself.
- After 10 minutes, remove layers from pan and allow to cool on plate with potholder underneath.
- When completely cool, frost in between and on top of cake, using cream cheese frosting recipe below.
- Place halves or pieces of walnuts along edge of cake to form a circle.
- For the center, you can make an A with raisins if desired.
- This is a moist, delicious cake and the raisins really do enhance its flavor.
- If you have leftovers after 2 days, I recommend refrigerating it, where it will last well for at least a week.
🍰 Cake Recipes
Cake For Company
🖨️ Full Recipe
Best-Of-Show Applesauce Cake
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- tsp baking powder,
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¾ teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup butter-flavored Crisco
- 1 cup applesauce
- 1 cup buttermilk
- ½ cup chopped walnuts
- ½ cup raisins
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F.
- Grease and flour 3 8-inch cake pans.
- Measure all ingredients except walnuts and raisins into large mixing bowl.
- Combine on low speed for 1 minute.
- Beat at medium speed for 3 minutes, being sure to scrape sides of bowl as you mix.
- Fold in walnuts and raisins. Distribute as evenly as possible in 3 prepared cake pans.
- Bake first two layers together, for about 25 minutes, just until center springs back when touched lightly with finger.
- Then bake third layer by itself. After 10 minutes, remove layers from pan and allow to cool on plate with potholder underneath.
- When completely cool, frost in between and on top of cake, using cream cheese frosting recipe below. Place halves or pieces of walnuts along edge of cake to form a circle.
- For the center, you can make an A with raisins if desired.
- This is a moist, delicious cake and the raisins really do enhance its flavor. If you have leftovers after 2 days, I recommend refrigerating it, where it will last well for at least a week.
Carolyn
Bea is just adorable. She looks like a big doll. Both your girls are beautiful. Watch out dad !! ten or eleven years from now young men will be knocking at your door !!!!