Baby's First Applesauce Cake and Petit Fours

Ingredients

• 2 cups canola oil or safflower oil, plus some for pans
• 6 cups unbleached all purpose flour
• 4 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 4 cups unsweetened applesauce
• 2 2/3 cups pure maple syrup
• 1/4 cup cider vinegar
• 1/4 (12 ounce) package frozen apple juice concentrate, thawed

Directions

1. 1

   Preheat oven to 375 degree F. Oil two 13"x18" rimmed baking sheets; line with parchment paper and set aside.

2. 2

   Whisk flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg together in a large bowl.

3. 3

   Whisk applesauce, oil, maple syrup, vinegar, and apple juice concentrate in another bowl. Add to flour mixture and mix until combined.

4. 4

   Divide batter between prepared sheets. Bake until pale golden and a cake tester (toothpick if you're not Martha) inserted into the center comes out clean, about 18 minutes.

5. 5

   Cool in the pans on wire racks 10 minutes, then invert and remove parchment. Reinvert (turn it so pretty top is on top again) onto a large cutting board lined in parchment. Let cool completely.

6. 6

   Cakes can be stored at this point, wrapped in plastic, overnight.

7. 7

   Cut a 3" strip off the long (18") side of each cake (for petit fours). Cut remaining portion in half crosswise and trim into four 8" squares (for adult cake).

8. 8

   For adult cake: Stack square cakes on a square piece of cardboard, spreading Apricot Whip (Recipe #238540) between them (or whatever filling, jam, or frosting you want). Spread a very thin layer of Apricot Frosting (Recipe #238541) on top and sides, smoothing with offset spatula (or use your own frosting, of course). Decorate as you wish.

9. 9

   For Petit Fours: Trim cake strips to 3"x15". Spread Apricot Whip (Recipe #238540) on one strip; top with remaining strip. Cut into twenty 1 1/2" squares. Top half with squares cut from Soft Apple Slices (Recipe #238883). Pipe dot of frosting onto other half, or decorate in some other manner.