Vegan Walnut Spice Cake

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 3/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup packed light brown sugar
• 3/4 cup vegetable shortening
• 1 cup applesauce
• 1 1/4 cups soymilk or 1 1/4 cups water
• 1/2 cup vegetable shortening
• 1/2 cup vegan margarine
• 1 teaspoon maple extract
• 1/2 teaspoon rum extract
• 2 (16 ounce) boxes confectioners’ sugar
• 6 -8 teaspoons soymilk or 6 -8 water
• 1 1/2 cups walnuts, toasted, chopped coarsely

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees f. Coat two 9-inch cake pans with nonstick cooking spray; line bottom with waxed paper and spray again.
2. In bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, clove cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Set aside.
3. In second bowl beat together apple sauce, sugars and shortening until combined. Beat in dry ingredients in three additions, alternating with soymilk/water. Beat two minutes.
4. Divide batter between pans and bake at 350 degrees F for 35 minutes until you can stick a toothpick in it an pull it out clean. Cool on rack for 12-15 minutes. Turn layers out and cool completely. Then Frost.
5. In bowl beat shortening, margarine and extracts. Gradually beat in confectioner’s sugar the 6 tablespoons soymilk/water, add in soymilk/water as needed for consistancy.
6. Spread the frosting on a layer of the cake, put the other layer on top, frost the tops and sides, then press walnuts onto the sides.