The cider sauce adds an extra spark of ginger to this old-fashioned cake.

Serves 12.

INGREDIENTS

  • for cake
  • nonstick vegetable oil spray
  • 2cups cake flour
  • 1/2cup (packed) golden brown sugar
  • 1tablespoon ground ginger
  • 1 1/2teaspoons baking soda
  • 1/2teaspoon salt
  • 1/2cup robust-flavored (dark) molasses
  • 1/2cup unsweetened applesauce
  • 6tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1large egg
  • 1/2cup boiling waterfor sauce
  • 2tablespoons sugar
  • 2tablespoons cornstarch
  • 2cups unsweetened apple cider
  • 1tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 2tablespoons minced crystallized gingerpowdered sugar

    DIRECTIONS

    Make cake:
    Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray 10-inch-diameter Bundt pan (12-cup capacity) with vegetable oil spray. Whisk flour, sugar, ginger, baking soda and salt in medium bowl to blend. Whisk molasses, applesauce, oil and egg in large bowl to blend. Add dry ingredients and stir until well blended. Whisk in 1/2 cup boiling water. Pour batter into prepared pan (batter will fill only half of pan).


    Bake until cake begins to pull away from sides of pan and tester inserted near center comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Transfer to rack and cool in pan 30 minutes. Invert cake onto platter and cool to lukewarm, at least 15 minutes.


    Make sauce:
    Whisk sugar and cornstarch in heavy small saucepan to blend. Gradually whisk in cider. Whisk over medium heat until sauce boils and thickens, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Whisk in lemon juice and ginger.


    Dust cake with powdered sugar. Cut into 12 wedges. Serve warm or at room temperature with sauce.