Chocolate-Banana Snack Cake

This easy-to-make snack cake has deep chocolate taste. For more banana flavor and a slight crunch, top the cake with crumbled banana chips before baking. You can sell the cake whole or package individual pieces.

Yield: 16 servings (serving size: 1 piece)

Ingredients

• 1/2  cup  unsweetened applesauce
• 1  cup  granulated sugar
• 1/4  cup  butter, softened
• 1/2  cup  mashed ripe banana
• 2  large eggs
• 1  teaspoon  instant coffee granules
• 1  teaspoon  vanilla extract
• 1  cup  all-purpose flour (about 4 1/2 ounces)
• 1/2  cup  unsweetened cocoa
• 1/2  teaspoon  baking soda
• 1/4  teaspoon  salt
• Powdered sugar (optional)

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350°.

Spoon applesauce onto several layers of heavy-duty paper towels; spread to 1/2-inch thickness. Cover with additional paper towels; let stand 5 minutes. Scrape applesauce into a bowl using a rubber spatula.

Combine sugar and butter in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until light and fluffy (about 2 minutes). Add applesauce and banana, beating until blended. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in coffee and vanilla.

Lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine flour and remaining ingredients except powdered sugar, stirring well with a whisk. Add flour mixture to egg mixture; stir just until combined. Scrape batter into an 8-inch baking pan lined with parchment paper, spreading evenly. Bake at 350° for 40 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on rack. Sprinkle with powdered sugar, if desired.

Nutritional Information

Calories:

128 (28% from fat)

Fat:

3.9g (sat 2.2g,mono 1.1g,poly 0.2g)

Protein:

2.3g

Carbohydrate:

22.5g

Fiber:

1.4g

Cholesterol:

34mg

Iron:

0.9mg

Sodium:

106mg

Calcium:

10mg