Blue Ribbon Desserts

Friday, April 27, 2012
Apple and nut cake

Family Features

There's nothing quite like the taste of fresh berries and crisp, juicy apples. And when those mouthwatering flavors get paired with just the right spices in some delicious dessert favorites, it's even better.

You can enjoy fresh fruit flavors any time when you preserve your favorite fruits. With the perfect blend of all-natural spices from Mrs. Wages mixes, you can cook, then freeze or can your favorite fruits and they'll be ready for baking any time you're ready -- it's like having a dessert in a jar.

These recipes for Spiced Applesauce Cake and Forest Berry Cobbler get their great taste from spiced fruit mixes -- use them right after cooking, or can them so you can make these blue ribbon-worthy desserts long after fruit season is over.

Spiced Applesauce

Makes 3 quarts

8 to 10 pounds apples*
Granulated sugar
2 cups water
1 pouch Mrs. Wages Spiced Apple Mix

Prepare and process home canning jars and lids according to manufacturer's instructions for sterilized jars.

Wash, core and peel apples. Cut into halves

or quarters.

Combine prepared apples with 2 cups water in

a large saucepan and bring to a boil. Cover pan; reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes or until apples are soft.

Puree apple mixture and measure number of cups before returning to pot. Add 1/4 cup sugar

per 1 cup puree. Stir to dissolve sugar. Stir in contents of spiced apple mix and heat just to a boil. Remove from heat.

To can applesauce: Carefully ladle hot mixture into sterilized hot jars, filling evenly. Leave

1/2-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles, wipe rims and cap each jar as it is filled.

Process in a boiling water bath canner, 15 min­utes for pints and 20 minutes for quarts. Test jars for airtight seals according to manufacturer's direc­tions. If jars do not completely seal, refrigerate and consume within 2 weeks. Applesauce is ready to eat after 24 hours.

*Suggested apple varieties: Red Delicious, Gala, Fuji, Winesap, McIntosh, Yellow Delicious, Mutsu, Pink Lady and Honeycrisp.

Spiced Applesauce Cake

Yield: 24 pieces

Prep: 15 minutes

Bake: 40 minutes

Cake

1 1/4 cups Mrs. Wages Spiced
Applesauce
1 package (15 to 18 ounces) spice
cake mix
3 large eggs
1 cup water

Frosting

4 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup milk
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Spray a 9 x 13-inch cake pan with non-stick spray and lightly coat with flour.

Combine applesauce, cake mix, eggs

and water in a large mixing bowl. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes. Pour batter into prepared pan.

Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out

clean. Cool com­pletely on a wire rack.

To make frosting: Combine all ingre­dients and beat on medium speed until smooth and fluffy. Spread frosting over cooled cake and cut into 24 pieces.

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