Photo by: Sarah Shatz Applesauce Cake with Caramel Glaze- This is one of my favorite desserts -- a spiced applesauce cake. Previously, I've made a fresh ginger glaze for it that tastes delicious but sort of curdles and doesn't look all that pretty. This time, I found inspiration in a rich, sweet, Southern-stye caramel icing from Craig Claiborne's New York Times Cookbook, which I've made a few times for other cakes. But I wanted a true glaze, not an icing, so off to the interwebs I went. Imagine my delight when I came across the perfect recipe on the blog of TheRunawaySpoon! It turned out to be the perfect complement to this tender, spiced and just slightly sweet cake. Thank you, TheRunawaySpoon, for your help. - Merrill
2 cups all-purpose flour 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1/4 teaspoon finely ground black pepper 2 teaspoons cinnamon 1 teaspoon ground ginger 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice 2 large eggs 1 cup sugar 1/2 cup light brown sugar 1 1/2 cups unsweetened (preferably homemade) applesauce 2/3 cup vegetable oil 1 teaspoon vanilla
For the caramel glaze:
4 tablespoons butter, cut into chunks 1/2 cup packed ligh
The question's so old it might as well be part of the tradition: what to cook for the holidays?
Here are 12 fresh and festive ways to usher in a sweet New Year, with a few twists on the classics -- from honey-kissed short ribs to the perfect applesauce cake.