"Screw Up" Cake

I ran out of daylight by the time I got home from my grandparents - so sorry for the bad lighting! Anyway, happy Father's Day to all the dad's reading my blog! I made this cake for my dad this year and he loved it. It's always been one of my dad's favorite cakes that my grandma made for him. The reason it's called "Screw Up" cake is because when my grandma was making it, she found out she didn't have a few of the ingredients that the recipe called for - so she substituted some things. And this was the final result! The original recipe was actually supposed to be a chocolate cake! Actually, now that I think about it, this frosting would probably be amazing with chocolate cake. I gotta try that! Anyway, this cake is amazing and, like my dad, it was always one of my favorites growing up. It has a sort of maple-y taste to it that I absolutely love and know you will too! I'm just glad my dad took this one home with him. I have no self control when it comes to dessert.

Frosting Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup Vegan shortening (I used Spectrum Shortening)
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup non-dairy milk
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• A big bowl of water to cool the frosting in

Melt the shortening over low heat. Once it's fully melted, add the brown sugar. Cook and stir for two minutes then add the milk. Raise the heat to medium high and bring the mixture to a full boil. Once it's reached a full boil, take off the heat and place the pan in the cold water. Try not to get any water in your pan! Once the liquid has cooled fully add the 2 cups of sugar and mix with a hand mixer.

Cake Ingredients:

• 2/3 cup Vegan Shortening
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1/2 cup applesauce
• 2 tsp apple cider vinegar
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 1/4 cup non-dairy milk
• 2 1/4 cup all purpose flour
• 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp vanilla

Preheat the oven to 375F. Mix together the shortening, sugar, applesauce, vinegar, and baking powder. Then add the flour and milk in three steps - alternating between the two (1/3 of the flour, then a 1/3 of the milk and repeat). Then add in the baking soda and vanilla and mix together thoroughly.

Bake in a greased 9x13 baking pan for 20-23 minutes until the cake is golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the center!

Enjoy and Happy Eating!