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Chocolate Applesauce Cake: Rich Flavor with Less Fat

March 15, 2016 By Katie Moseman 14 Comments

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Chocolate applesauce cake makes the perfect better-for-you dessert.  It’s rich in the chocolate flavor that you love while reducing the total amount of fat.

This chocolate applesauce cake shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BakeItWithMotts #CollectiveBias

Chocolate applesauce cake makes the perfect better-for-you dessert. It's rich in the chocolate flavor that you love while reducing the total amount of fat.

Chocolate Applesauce Cake: Rich Chocolate Flavor with Less Fat

Ever tried replacing your some or all of your baking fats, such as butter or oil, with applesauce?  It’s one of the oldest and most reliable tricks in the book.  This recipe for Chocolate Applesauce Cake remakes the classic applesauce cake with chocolate.  It’s dense yet delicate, with a very fine grain and intense chocolate flavor.

Rather than using a whole stick of butter (or more), this cake uses just four tablespoons of butter and replaces the rest with Mott’s® Natural Applesauce.  You can save $1 on Mott’s® when you buy 3 packages at Publix, so be sure to get your coupon before you shop.

Chocolate applesauce cake makes the perfect better-for-you dessert. It's rich in the chocolate flavor that you love while reducing the total amount of fat.

When swapping applesauce for oil or butter in baking, you can generally substitute cup for cup.  For example, 1/2 cup of applesauce could be substituted for 1/2 cup of oil.  Applesauce adds moisture while helping you reduce fat and calories.

Mott's Applesauce

I picked up my 100% Natural Mott’s® Applesauce on the fruit aisle at Publix.

Mott's Applesauce at Publix

Once you’ve picked up your nutritious, Vitamin C packed applesauce, you’ll be ready!

Chocolate applesauce cake makes the perfect better-for-you dessert. It's rich in the chocolate flavor that you love while reducing the total amount of fat.

Tips for Making Chocolate Applesauce Cake

  • The key to this cake- and I can’t stress this enough- is that it needs to rest after baking.  This will allow the flavors to develop and meld.  You should let it cool completely before eating.  Once it’s completely cooled, wrap it airtight to store.
  • This recipe was tested with natural (not Dutch-processed) cocoa powder.  I used natural cocoa powder because it has a bolder, fruitier taste that complements the applesauce very well.
  • If you like tasting batter (like I do), use pasteurized eggs and take a taste of this batter.  Yum!
Chocolate applesauce cake makes the perfect better-for-you dessert. It's rich in the chocolate flavor that you love while reducing the total amount of fat.
4.67 from 3 votes
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Chocolate Applesauce Cake: Rich Flavor with Less Fat

Chocolate applesauce cake makes the perfect better-for-you dessert. It's rich in the chocolate flavor that you love while reducing the total amount of fat.

Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 264 kcal
Author Katie Moseman

Ingredients

  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • 1 1/4 cup natural cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup Mott's® Applesauce
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter melted

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 F and prepare a 9 inch round cake pan by either a) spraying it with a baking spray containing flour, b) buttering and flouring the pan, or c) buttering the pan and lining it with parchment paper.
  2. In a bowl, combine the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt, then stir thoroughly to combine. Set aside.
  3. In a large mixing bowl, combine the eggs, applesauce, sugar, and vanilla. Stir to combine. Then, while whisking continuously, drizzle in the melted butter.
  4. Add the dry mixture to the wet mixture and stir until combined. Batter will be very thick. Scrape the batter into the prepared cake pan and smooth out the top evenly.
  5. Bake for about 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out with moist crumbs but no wet batter attached.
  6. Cool in the pan on a rack for 15 minutes, then set the cake on a rack and let cool completely. Store airtight for freshness.
Nutrition Facts
Chocolate Applesauce Cake: Rich Flavor with Less Fat
Amount Per Serving
Calories 264 Calories from Fat 72
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 8g 12%
Saturated Fat 5g 25%
Cholesterol 55mg 18%
Sodium 200mg 8%
Potassium 309mg 9%
Total Carbohydrates 48g 16%
Dietary Fiber 5g 20%
Sugars 28g
Protein 5g 10%
Vitamin A 4.9%
Vitamin C 0.4%
Calcium 4.9%
Iron 16.1%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Chocolate applesauce cake makes the perfect better-for-you dessert. It's rich in the chocolate flavor that you love while reducing the total amount of fat.

Eating healthy?  Try my no-crust pumpkin pie!

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Cookbooks by Katie Moseman

Filed Under: Cakes, Desserts, Recipes

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Cindy (Vegetarian Mamma)

    March 15, 2016 at 10:22 am

    This cake looks amazing! I love it that has applesauce as the star of this recipe. Applesauce can make things so moist and delicious! I can’t wait to try this! I YUMMED your recipe!

    Reply
    • Katie

      March 15, 2016 at 10:24 am

      Thanks for Yumming! Applesauce really can work well for baking.

      Reply
  2. JENN

    March 15, 2016 at 5:38 pm

    WOW!! That cake looks so moist! I love adding apple sauce in my baking. It takes down the calories and increases the nutritional value!

    Reply
    • Katie

      March 17, 2016 at 7:08 am

      It is moist! The applesauce helps make it moist- extra liquid and just a bit of fruit fiber to hold on to the moisture.

      Reply
  3. Tori Gabriel

    March 16, 2016 at 2:20 am

    This cake looks amazing though I have never heard of using chocolate and applesauce together. I’m going to have to give it a go as it sounds like an odd combination to me. Still, it works for candy apples, right?

    Reply
    • Katie

      March 17, 2016 at 7:07 am

      Actually, there’s not much of an apple taste after the cake is cool. The chocolate is predominant, with only a lightly “fruity” taste in the background.

      Reply
  4. Tyra

    March 16, 2016 at 10:42 am

    I know people who have done this and they rave about the results. I am going to have to refer back to this because that cake looks divine! And less fat… It’s a win win!

    Reply
    • Katie

      March 17, 2016 at 6:57 am

      I was skeptical before I tried it myself, but it really works!

      Reply
  5. Crystal Lopez

    March 16, 2016 at 8:07 pm


    This is a wonderful recipe! I love the idea of using the applesauce to cut down on the fat and create a healthier alternative. Can’t wait to give it a try!

    Reply
    • Katie

      March 17, 2016 at 6:56 am

      Thanks, Crystal! I’ll probably make another one soon. It makes a great snack or dessert!

      Reply
  6. Kristie

    September 8, 2016 at 4:11 am

    Looks delicious! Any idea how long it would take to make cupcakes?

    Reply
    • Katie

      September 8, 2016 at 6:05 am

      Hmm… I’ve never made cupcakes with this recipe, but typically they take 15-20 minutes. 25 minutes if the cups are more full. Check if they’re done by inserting a toothpick in the middle of one of the cupcakes; if it comes out with moist crumbs and no batter, then they’re done.

      Reply

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