Date Sweetened Homemade Applesauce Food

THE BEST HOMEMADE APPLESAUCE

Steps:

• Combine the apples, sugar, 1 cup water and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a large pot. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. Reduce the heat to medium-low. Cover with a tight-fitting lid and cook until the apples are very soft, 18 to 20 minutes.
• Stir in the lemon juice and cinnamon. Let cool for 5 minutes or so, then transfer the apple mixture to a blender, filling no more than halfway. Remove the center cap from the lid and place it on the blender. Cover the lid with a folded kitchen towel to catch splatters and pulse until smooth. Alternatively, puree in the pan with an immersion blender.
• Transfer the applesauce to a bowl and refrigerate until cool, about 1 hour. Store leftover applesauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

APPLESAUCE DATE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 deg.
• Grease well and flour a 9-by-9-by-2 inch baking pan.
• Into a large bowl of electric mixer, sift flour with baking soda, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, cloves, salt.
• Then add eggs, sugar, butter, and 1 cup applesauce; at low speed, beat just until ingredients are combined.
• At medium speed, beat 2 minutes longer, occasionally scraping side of bowl and guiding mixture into beater with rubber scraper.
• Add remaining applesauce, dates and walnuts; beat 1 minute.
• Pour batter into prepared pan.
• Bake 50 minutes, or until cake tester inserted in center comes out clean.
• Let cool in pan 10 minutes.
• Remove from pan.
• Let cool on wire rack.
• Frost with a Cream-Cheese frosting.