Simply Delish Pumpkin Cake

Simply Delish Pumpkin Cake

Old fashioned pumpkin cake updated by substituting applesauce for some of the oil

Old fashioned pumpkin cake updated by substituting applesauce for some of the oil

You’ll fall for this simple pumpkin cake. It’s perfect for this time of year, and was a hit at our Halloween dinner party.  I don’t recall where I found the original recipe, but I tweaked it a bit by replacing some of the oil with applesauce and a portion of the white flour with whole wheat.

The sprinkling of confectioners sugar instead of icing means you don’t have to feel guilty adding a scoop of vanilla ice cream to this delish dessert.

Pumpkin Cake

2 cups white sugar
3/4 cups applesauce
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
15 oz can plain pumpkin
4 eggs
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup whole wheat flour (or 2 cups all-purpose flour)
3 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1 cup chopped walnuts (optional but recommended!)
confectioners sugar

Preheat oven to 350F.
Grease and flour a 9 x 12 pan.

Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and spices. Set aside.

In a large bowl combine sugar, applesauce and oil. Blend in vanilla and pumpkin. Beat in eggs one at a time. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in nuts. Spread batter into prepared pan.

Bake in preheated oven for 35-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow to cool. Dust lightly with confectioners sugar.