Applesauce Cake from The Charlotte Cookbook

My real name is not Lottie of course, it is Charlotte.  No one knew me as Lottie until I started blogging.  I like Lottie.  No one called me Charlotte when I was young, it was always "Sweet Charlotte" from the movie Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte. 

Somehow, when I was young, I never learned to cook without a recipe.  The culture of all the women I was around (and later my husband), was of fabulous cooks who threw a little of this and a little of that in to create culinary ecstasy!  Oh my gosh, the great potato salad I have eaten! No recipe necessary!

But for me, I need a recipe. Even if I've made the dish, like cornbread, a million times, I still need a recipe.  And of course for me, everything has to be measured exactly! (Please don't laugh.)

When I was a young wife and Sweet Charlotte, back in 1977, I decided to get over the "no recipe" rule and buy a cookbook just for me!  I found The Charlotte Cookbook published by The Charlotte Junior League, Charlotte, North Carolina, 1976.

Yes, I bought it just because of the title.  This was the first cookbook I bought for myself so it holds a special place in my heart, as well as the bookcase full of cookbooks I bought afterwards.

I was also sure this cookbook had good recipes!  Why? The cookbook says so.

           Over 800 recipes have been tested and edited for this book.  The
           Cookbook Committee has tried every recipe and in some cases
           slight variations have been made.

Since Christmas of 1977, I have followed this recipe for Applesauce Cake from The Charlotte Cookbook!  It always tasted so good and the whole house always smelled so good while it was baking.  I want to share this favorite recipe with you today!

Oh, I can't begin to describe how good this tastes!

Applesauce Cake

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1    egg

1    cup applesauce

1 3/4 cups flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda (scant)

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

1 cup raisins

1/4 cup butter

1 cup brown sugar

Cream 1/2 -cup butter with 1/2 -cup white and 1/2 cup brown sugar. Add egg.  Sift flour, baking powder, salt, and soda and mix with egg mixture.  Add applesauce, spices and raisins.

(DH volunteered to help. Don't forget to add a "hunk of love" to the recipe!)

Put in greased 9x12 -inch pan.  Melt the 1/4 -cup butter and dribble on top of cake.  Sprinkle 1 cup brown sugar on top (using more or less according to taste).  Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until done.  Serve warm topped with whipped cream if desired. 

                                             ... Mrs. Terry Young

I have never served it with whipped topping. It tastes fine just as it is.  Also, it is even better the next day.  I usually freeze the squares for later.

I've been baking this Applesauce Cake for 36 years and never once changed the recipe.  But for health reasons, I need to retire this recipe.

I hope you enjoy this recipe just in case you are like me and need one!
:) Lottie