Applesauce Cake

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour spooned and leveled
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 1/4 teaspoons ground cardamom
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter room temperature
• 2 cups packed light-brown sugar
• 1/4 cup honey
• 2 large eggs
• 2 cups Basic Applesauce (recipe below) or store-bought chunky applesauce
• Nonstick cooking spray
• Confectioners' sugar optional
• 3 lbs. apples cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 2 to 4 tablespoons sugar
• 3/4 cup water
• 2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

Instructions

1. 1
   Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and cardamom. Set aside.
2. 2
   In another bowl, with an electric mixer, beat butter, brown sugar, and honey until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until combined. With mixer on low speed, gradually add flour mixture; beat just until combined. Beat in applesauce.
3. 3
   Generously coat a nonstick 9-inch tube pan with cooking spray. Spoon batter into pan; smooth top. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean (but slightly wet), 50 to 60 minutes.
4. 4
   Cool on a wire rack 10 minutes. Turn out of pan onto a cutting board or baking sheet; invert cake onto rack, top side up. Cool completely. Dust with confectioners' sugar before serving, if desired.
5. 5
   Basic Applesauce: Peel, core, and cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices 3 pounds apples (try a combination of Gala, Golden Delicious, and McIntosh). In a large saucepan, combine apples with 1 cinnamon stick, 2 to 4 tablespoons sugar, and 3/4 cup water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until apples are tender, 30 to 35 minutes. (If sauce begins to stick to the bottom of the pan, add 2 to 4 tablespoons more water.)
6. 6
   Remove from heat; discard cinnamon stick. Stir in 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice.