Applesauce Date Cake with Sea Salt Carmel Sauce...

Years ago...folks ate cake. I remember we rarely used a mix did they make cake mixes?....Cake was easy to mix up, we used to make it while dinner was cooking, it was much easier than cookies...then we took pieces of it in our lunch the next day to school....frosting rarely was put on the cake...it might have been dusted with powdered sugar or served warm with whip cream. It usually could all be mixed up in the same bowl with a spoon, you didn't have to drag out a mixer...the texture of those cakes were wonderful...the difference between artisan bread and wonder bread...man, oh man ,try this cake...the Carmel sauce is so good you could just eat it with a spoon.....

this is the applesauce cake, perfect for lunch boxes or a tea!

Applesauce Date Cake

1 1/2 cup flour
1 teaspoon soda
2/3 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/8 cloves
1 cup of applesauce
1 egg
1 stick or 1/2 cup of butter melted and cooled
1 teaspoon vanilla
 3/4 cup of chopped dates

makes a 8 inch square or round cake
bake at 325 for 35 minutes

Mix flour and soda in a bowl and set aside....mix sugar and spices in another bowl and set aside.... in a large bowl, with a wire whip mix egg and salt, add all but 2 tablespoons of sugar mixture...add applesauce and vanilla, then slowly add flour mixture, mixing with a spatula. just until mixed....put in greased and floured pan and sprinkle remaining sugar mix over top....bake for 35 minutes, or until done (will be very moist) cool for 1 hour.....

Sea Salt Carmel Sauce

3/4 cup of sugar
1/2 cup of water
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons of heavy cream
5 tablespoons of butter
1 teaspoon of fleur de sel or other sea salt

Combine the sugar and water in a small heavy sauce pan. Bring to a boil. Continue to boil the mixture until it turns a light amber color. Do not stir. If part of the syrup is turning darker that the rest, gently tilt the pan to even out.

When the syrup is a uniform amber color, stir in the heavy cream with a long handled wooden spoon. When the bubbling has subsided, remove the pot from the heat and stir in the butter an salt until the butter in melted. Transfer to a large heatproof bowl and let cool to warm before using....

Cut the cake into wedges and serve with warm sauce, and extra on the side...

I had to have got your attention here! this is the best Carmel sauce this side of heaven!

ok so here is the instructions!

melt butter in the microwave...and cool...

whisk dry ingredients together...

chop dates....

mix sugar and spice  (and everything nice)

this is applesauce, 1 cup.....

egg, vanilla and sugar mix....whisked together....

slowly add melted butter whisking after each little addition....

add flour mixture and dates and stir just until blended....

put in greased pan and sprinkle with remaining sugar mix....

bake at 325 for 35 minutes....

you wouldn't believe how great this smells!

while this cools let's make the Carmel sauce...kay? place sugar and water in pan and put on medium high heat, and don't stir.....

we are going to plate this on the new plate Misty got me for Christmas...cute huh?

get out 5 tablespoons butter....

your best sea salt.....

measure out your heavy cream.....

holy cow! ok things happened so fast I didn't get a chance to take pictures, all of a sudden the sugar mixture was amber, be sure to take off the heat before adding the cream and start mixing, add the butter and salt and stir until the butter is melted.....let cool about an hour and then serve....oh my, oh my, you won't believe how good this is and it takes no time at all!!!!

Cheers to Happy  !!