Applesauce Snack Cake

In my shrunken kitchen, I'm trying to use as few dishes, bowls, pans, etc. as possible. This recipe from my Shortcut Cooking for the Smart Cook cookbook was perfect, since it required only the baking pan and a glass mixing cup for the microwave. Actually, I first made this last Thursday, and my dearly beloved asked for a rerun last night, so I'm guessing that means it was better than "not too awfully bad!"

APPLESAUCE SNACK CAKE

1-2/3 cups flour
1 cup packed brown sugar
1-1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup applesauce
1/3 cup chopped nuts (I used pecans)
1/2 cup water
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp vinegar (I used cider vinegar)

Use an 8"x8" or 7"x10" baking pan, ungreased. In the pan, put all of the dry ingredients, and stir them together well. Add the wet ingredients and mix until combined. Stir in the nuts. Bake at 350F for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the cake tests done. Serve warm, topped with this sauce:

1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup orange juice or apple cider
2 tbsp whipping cream

Melt the butter in the microwave. Stir in the rest of the ingredients, then cook in the microwave for 1 to 3 minutes (depending upon your microwave oven), until the sauce thickens. Serve over the warm cake. Then cry because there will be no leftovers for tomorrow morning's breakfast. Grace, here's another winner for your cinnamon recipe collection!