Old-Fashioned Oatmeal Honey Apple Cake

Category Finalist, Desserts. "I've been making oatmeal cake for my family for more than 45 years. Several years ago I revised the recipe, eliminating vegetable oil and using thick, chunky applesauce for added moistness. I replaced granulated sugar with honey, which gave the cake more flavor. The original frosting called for coconut, but I chose almonds, a more healthful option." —Barbara Estabrook, Rhinelander, Wisconsin

Yield: 16 servings (serving size: 1 cake piece and 1 tablespoon topping)

Ingredients

• Cake:
• 1  cup  quick-cooking oats
• 1  cup  hot water
• 1 1/2  cups  all-purpose flour (about 6 3/4 ounces)
• 2  teaspoons  ground cinnamon
• 1  teaspoon  baking soda
• 1/2  teaspoon  salt
• 1 1/3  cups  packed light brown sugar
• 3/4  cup  chunky applesauce
• 1/3  cup  honey
• 2  large eggs
• Cooking spray
• 
  Frosting:
• 1/4  cup  butter
• 1/3  cup  packed light brown sugar
• 1/4  cup  honey
• 1/2  cup  coarsely chopped almonds, toasted
• 
  Remaining ingredients:
• 1  cup  frozen fat-free whipped topping, thawed
• Ground cinnamon (optional)

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350°.

2. To prepare cake, combine oats and 1 cup hot water in a small bowl; set aside.

3. Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, 2 teaspoons cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. Combine 1 1/3 cups sugar, applesauce, 1/3 cup honey, and eggs in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at high speed 1 minute. Add oat mixture; beat at low speed until well blended. Add half of flour mixture to sugar mixture; beat well. Add remaining flour mixture; beat well. Spoon batter into an 11 x 7–inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 48 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Place dish on a wire rack.

4. To prepare frosting, melt butter in a small heavy saucepan over medium heat. Add 1/3 cup sugar and 1/4 cup honey; cook 2 minutes or until bubbly, stirring constantly. Stir in almonds. Quickly pour frosting over cake; spread evenly using a rubber spatula.

5. Preheat broiler.

6. Broil cake 1 minute or until frosting is bubbly and golden. Cool completely on a wire rack. Serve with whipped topping; sprinkle with ground cinnamon, if desired.

Nutritional Information

Calories:

255 (19% from fat)

Fat:

5.4g (sat 2.1g,mono 1.7g,poly 0.5g)

Protein:

3.4g

Carbohydrate:

48.9g

Fiber:

1.5g

Cholesterol:

34mg

Iron:

1.8mg

Sodium:

193mg

Calcium:

40mg