election caramel and applesauce cake

Deep apologies for my blog silence - you could call it election freeze .  I grew up in a very committed Democratic family, and as the election drew closer, and the voting results came in slowly, I headed to the kitchen.  I became obsessed with making caramel.  I made The Pioneer Woman's brown sugar caramel over and over, and it seemed to come out different every time. It would be creamy in the saucepan, and then slowly turn grainy.  That happened a LOT.  As long as I warmed it again, it was creamy and delicious, but as soon as it cooled, it turned grainy again.

So I tried this recipe, which can't be easier, and it stayed creamy and glossy, though I did add a little butter for a deeper caramel flavor.  Then I realized you can't just post an icing recipe - you something to put it on, right?   So when I found Sarah Leah Chase's applesauce cake I thought I was home free.  Nope, didn't have dates, Calvados, or walnuts, which I'm sure would've been delicious - but I plowed ahead and crossed my fingers.  The cake was good, a nice texture, but rather plain without the Calvados/date additions, and because I was riveted to the election returns and the stores were now closed, I just skipped it.  I didn't use her caramel glaze, because it was almost the same as the Pioneer Woman's, and I had two saucepans full of caramel sitting on my counter.  Apologies again, and hope you will try Sarah's recipe in full  - I used half a recipe.

Here is half the recipe of hers that I used for 2 little 6" layer cakes:

6 T. unsalted butter, room temp
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 large egg
1 cup homemade applesauce
1 1/2 cups (one and a half) flour
1 and 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
3/4 tablespoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
(optional:  1/2 cup pitted dates, cut up, 1/2 cup chopped walnuts - I did not use)
1/4 cup Calvados or rum

I baked two small cake layers, baking at 375F for 35 minutes - but check cakes at around 20 minutes to be sure.