Strawberry Applesauce Cake

Total Time: 35 mins Preparation Time: 5 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• 1 (18 ounce) box cake mix
• 1 (10 ounce) package frozen sliced strawberries in syrup, thawed and pureed
• 1/2 cup sweetened applesauce
• 2 large eggs
• 4 ounces neufchatel cheese, at room temperature (reduced fat cream cheese)
• 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar, sifted
• 1 drop red food coloring (optional)

Recipe

• 1 place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350°f.
• 2 lightly mist a 12-cup bundt plan with vegetable oil spray, then dust with flour.
• 3 shake out the excess flour.
• 4 set the pan aside.
• 5 place the cake mix, strawberry puree, applesauce and the eggs in a large mixing bowl.
• 6 blend with an electric mixer on low speed for 1 minute.
• 7 stop the machine and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula.
• 8 increase the mixer speed to medium and beat 2 minutes more, scraping the sides down again if needed.
• 9 the batter should look well combined and thickened.
• 10 pour the batter into the prepared pan, smoothing it out with the rubber spatula.
• 11 place pan in oven.
• 12 bake the cake until it is light brown and springs back when lightly pressed with your finger, 30-35 minutes.
• 13 remove the pan from oven place it on a wire rack to cool for 20 minutes.
• 14 run a long, sharp knife around the edge of the cake and invert it onto a serving platter to cool completely, 20 minutes more.
• 15 meanwhile, prepare the frosting.
• 16 place the neufchatel cheese and the strawberry preserves in a medium size mixing bowl.
• 17 blend with an electric mixer on low speed until just combined, 30 seconds.
• 18 stop the machine, scape down the sides of the bowl with the rubber spatula, and add the confectioner's sugar and red food coloring, if desired.
• 19 increase the mixer speed to medium and beat until fluffy, 1 minute more.
• 20 spread the frosting over top and sides of the cooled cake with clean, smooth strokes, slice and serve!
• 21 ****store this cake, covered in wax paper, in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.