Valentine’s Day is fast approaching and I was lucky enough to have two cool kids, (mine and a great friend) helping me in the kitchen today. A lot of great learning happens when kids pull up a chair at the counter…they measured, they smelled every spice, they stirred, they carefully followed directions “do not stick your finger in the mixer” and they ate with big smiles. We rounded out the morning with plenty of cut out paper hearts and Valentines to send to Grandparents.
We made an Applesauce Spice Cake, the recipe coming from my favorite blog, Second and Edgemont. The author, Amy, shares many of my interests…cooking, baking, gardening, knitting, mothering, thrift finding, and the great outdoors, but most importantly, making your house a home and sharing it with the ones you love. Her photos are inspiring and constantly remind me to make home the best it can be, even when I’m feeling like our little house is overflowing with toy trains, high chairs and diapers.
The recipe today was similar to a coffee cake, a slice is delicious with a late morning coffee or a scoop of vanilla ice cream after a Valentine’s dinner. I enjoyed the mess and chaos with my little helpers today, just another day as mom.
Happy Valentine’s Day!

Applesauce Spice Cake
Ingredients
- 1½ c flour
- ¼ t baking soda
- 1 t cinnamon
- ½ t cloves
- ½ t ginger
- ¼ t nutmeg
- ½ t kosher salt
- ½ c butter room temperature
- ¾ c brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 c applesauce
- 1 c pecans chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°
- Line a round pan (or a bundt pan) with a circle of parchment paper and cooking spray
- In a large bowl, add all dry ingredients and whisk to combine, set aside
- In a stand mixer, cream together the butter and sugar
- Add egg
- Alternate adding the applesauce and flour mixture until combined
- Add pecans, scraping down the sides of the mixer as necessary
- Scrape batter into the pan, bake 30 minutes
- Let cool, dust the top with confectioner's sugar (add to a mesh strainer and tap it over the cake)
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