Applesauce-Chocolate Chip Bundt Cake

• Recipe by Kristin Donnelly

Kristin Donnelly is devoted to her mother’s one-bowl Bundt cake because of its clove and cinnamon spices and its simplicity. As an exchange student in France, she even paid top dollar for chocolate chips and applesauce at an American market to make it for her host family. Today she adds a kick of black pepper to the batter and serves each slice with a cool-sour dollop of crème fraîche.

Ingredients

1. 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
2. 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
3. 2 teaspoons baking soda
4. 2 teaspoons cinnamon
5. 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
6. 1 teaspoon salt
7. 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
8. 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
9. 2 cups unsweetened applesauce
10. 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
11. 1/2 cup vegetable oil
12. 1 stick unsalted butter, melted
13. One 12-ounce bag semisweet-chocolate chips
14. Confectioners’ sugar, for dusting
15. Crème fraîche, for serving

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°. Butter and flour a 12-cup Bundt pan. In a large bowl, whisk the flour with the granulated sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, cardamom, salt, cloves and pepper. Whisk in the applesauce, eggs, oil and melted butter. Fold in the chocolate chips.
2. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few crumbs attached.
3. Transfer the pan to a rack and let the cake cool for 10 minutes, then invert it onto the rack and let cool completely, about 20 minutes. Sift confectioners’ sugar over the cake, slice and serve with crème fraîche.

Make Ahead

The cake can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.