Butter Rum-Glazed Applesauce Cake

I can only say one thing about this cake--YUM!!  That is if you like an applesauce cake and the flavor of butter-rum lifesavers.  (and who doesn't like butter-rum lifesavers??)

And talk about easy!   This is one of the easiest cakes to make.  When you look at the directions there seem like a lot of steps, but really, it takes no time at all. 
I took this small cake to our   "Friday Night Friends"  (standing dates for supper--we've been getting together for years on  Friday nights if we have no other plans) and everyone loved it. 

It's not fancy at all, so if you are looking for a fancy dessert, this is not it---this one is just plain, simple and good.   Applesauce cake is such a throwback to when I was growing up.  It even sounds  old-fashioned.  I mean,  when was the last time someone served you an applesauce cake?    My grandma used to make an applesauce cake--it was so moist and dense and  I loved the taste of  cinnamon--and this reminded me of that cake, but she didn't glaze hers... we just ate big pieces without frosting.  Using the glaze brings the taste to a whole new level for me. It was so good.

It is my opinion that you should bring it back--bring the old-fashioned cakes back!  And start with this simple 'butter rum glazed' one.  It will be a hit, I guarantee it.

I did not 'frost' the cake but just dolloped the glaze on top of each slice.  Also, my 'glaze' looks really thick, so perhaps I turned it into more of a frosting, but that's fine, more butter-rum flavor in each bite that way.
In the photo in the magazine  (Betty Crocker's  Best Loved Christmas recipes) they frosted the whole cake.  You can do what you want.

It's been good to do a post again.  I've been gone for a bit from the blogging world.  I just needed a little break I guess. I still am in awe of all of you who manage to have lives AND  do blog posts every day.

Butter Rum-Glazed Applesauce Cake
from Betty Crocker's Best Loved Recipes

Cake:
1/3 cup butter  (do not use margarine)
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 cup applesauce
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt

Heat oven to 350 F. Grease bottom and sides of an 8-inch square pan with shortening or cooking spray.
In a 1 1/2 quart saucepan, melt 1/3 cup butter over medium heat. Cook about 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until butter just begins to brown.   Immediately remove from heat. Stir in sugar, applesauce and vanilla.
In a large bowl, mix four, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Stir in applesauce mixture.
Pour batter into pan.
Bake 30-35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Glaze:
2 Tbls butter
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 tsp rum extract
3-4 tsp half and half or milk

In a  1 1/2 quart saucepan, melt 2 Tbls butter over medium heat. Cook about  3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until butter just begins to brown. Immediately remove from heat. Stir in remaining glaze ingredients until smooth. 
Pour glaze over warm cake.
Cool 30 minutes.  Serve warm.  Sprinkle with additional cinnamon if desired.