Dessert: Scandinavian Spiced Christmas Cake with Applesauce Filling

A luscious ending to a superb dinner. This three-layer cake has a whipped cream frosting that's spiked with brandy and molasses.

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground mace
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup solid vegetable shortening, room temperature
1 cup sugar
1 large egg
1/2 cup mild-flavored (light) molasses
1/2 cup buttermilk

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 °F. Lightly butter 9-inch-diameter cake pan with 2-inch-high sides. Line bottom of pan with parchment paper. Mix first 5 ingredients in medium bowl. Dissolve baking soda in 1/4 cup water.
Using electric mixer, beat shortening and sugar in large bowl until blended. Beat in egg. Gradually beat in molasses. Mix in dry ingredients alternately with buttermilk. Beat in baking soda mixture. Transfer batter to prepared pan. Bake until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Transfer pan to rack and cool cake 10 minutes. Cut around pan sides to loosen cake. Turn cake out onto rack; peel off paper. Cool completely.

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