1 c Margarine — softened
3 c Granulated sugar
4 Egg whites — whipped
1 tb Vanilla
1 ts Almond extract
2 c Applesauce — at room
Temperature
3 c Unbleached flour
3/4 c Cocoa powder — sifted
1 ts Baking soda
1/2 ts Baking powder
1/8 ts Salt
Preheat oven at 325. Place a baking sheet onto middle rack and
remove top rack from oven. Before starting batter, wash 8 (1 pint)
wide mouth canning jars with lids in hot soapy water and let drain,
dry, and cool to room temperature. Generously prepare jars with
margarine. In a mixing bowl, combine margarine, sugar, egg whites,
vanilla, almond extract, and applesauce. In another mixing bowl,
combine flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
Mix wet ingredients with dry ingredients just until moistened. Spoon
1 level cupful of batter into each jar. Carefully wipe rims clean,
then place jars on baking sheet (or they’ll tip over) in the center
of oven. Bake 40 minutes. Keep lids in hot water until they’re
used. When cakes are done, remove jars which are HOT from oven one
at a time. If rims need cleaning, use moistened paper towel.
Carefully put lids and rings in place, then screw tops on tightly
shut. Place jars on a wire rack; they will seal as they cool.
Once jars are cool, decorate with round pieces of cloth and then glue
on flowers, ribbons, etc. on lid, ring and side of jar. Unscrew the
ring (the lid should be sealed by now) and place a few cotton balls
on top of the lid (makes it poofy on top), then a piece of cloth
(about 3″ larger than the lid) on top and screw the ring back on.
Decorate as desired (example pinking shears).
Yields
8 servings