Yesterday afternoon I hosted the canasta group. Two of the members have soy or dairy issues so I had to look a little longer for a recipe I could make. The recipe called for shortening (lard, actually) and no milk so I thought I was good. I wasn't sure if I had chocolate chips which the original recipe called for so when I was at Aldi I thought I would buy a package just in case. Surprise! Surprise! The chocolate chips, actually all of the baking chips, contained milk and soy. I had no idea about the soy.
So I had to put on my creative cap and came up with substituting dried cranberries and they were so delicious on top of the baked cake. I had to keep checking it to see if it were done because I wasn't sure what size baking dish to use since it was not included in the recipe which took me away from the canasta game but it was worth it. My version was nice and thick because I used a glass 8 x 11 inch baking dish, but I would use an aluminum pan next time. And there will definitely be a next time for sure. It was so moist and light tasting.
AMISH CHOCOLATE APPLESAUCE CAKE
1/2 cup shortening
2 eggs
1-1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
2 cups flour
1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons cocoa (I used unsweetened special dark)
2 cups applesauce (I used natural chunky)
1/2 cup chopped nuts (I used pecans)
1/2 cup dried cranberries
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9 x 13 - inch baking pan. Set aside.
Cream together the shortening, eggs, sugar, and cinnamon in a large mixing bowl. (I just let it beat while I prepared the dry ingredients so it was nice and light and creamy.)
Sift together the dry ingredients twice in another bowl. This will make sure that the cocoa is well blended with the flour, etc.
Add the dry ingredients and the applesauce alternately to the creamed mixture beginning and ending with the flour mixture.
Spread the batter evenly in the pan.
Sprinkle the nuts on top and then the dried cranberries.
Bake until done in the oven for 30 to 35 minutes. Check with a toothpick for doneness. (I baked mine in a glass 8 x 11 inch dish and had to cook it longer.)
Cut into squares to serve. Best while still warm. So moist and light.