This is a moist, dark cake. If you choose to add the spices, the flavor will take on an air of mystery. It is almost a spice cake, understatedly chocolate, with a touch of orange, and all the luxurious qualities of an applesauce-nut cake.

This recipe is minimally sweet, so if you prefer a sweeter dessert, you can increase the sugar to 2 cups or use sweetened applesauce.

Steps

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter a standard-sized tube pan.
2. In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each.
3. Stir in the vanilla and orange rind. Set aside.
4. In a separate bowl, sift together all the dry ingredients (including the optional spices or not). Stir them into the ground walnuts.
5. In a third bowl, whisk together the applesauce and yogurt or sour cream until well blended.
6. Add the dry mixture and the applesauce mixture alternately to the butter mixture (dry-wet-dry-wet). Stir just enough to blend after each addition.
7. Turn the batter into the prepared tube pan. Bake 45 to 55 minutes at 350 degrees. The cake is done when a sharp knife inserted into the center comes out clean.