Don’s Dark Chocolate Cake

½ cup unsweetened, unflavored applesauce

Vegetable oil and flour spray

2 cups granulated sugar

1¾ cups all-purpose flour

¾ cup Hershey’s Special Dark cocoa

2 tablespoons instant espresso powder

1½ teaspoons baking powder

1½ teaspoons baking soda

½ teaspoon salt

2 large eggs

1 cup low-fat milk

¼ cup mild olive oil

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 cup boiling water

Powdered sugar

Place a wire mesh strainer over a bowl deep enough to keep the bottom of the strainer from touching the bottom of the bowl and add ½ cup applesauce. Set aside.

Position oven rack in the middle and heat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 13-by-9-inch pan with foil and then lightly coat with vegetable oil and flour spray. Set aside.

Add sugar, flour, cocoa, espresso powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt to a large mixing bowl and, using a wire whisk, stir together until combined. Add eggs, milk, oil, ¼ cup drained applesauce and vanilla and, using an electric mixer, beat on medium speed for 2 minutes. Stir in the boiling water. (The batter will be thin; that is normal).

Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake 30-35 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out almost clean. Place on a wire rack and cool completely. Dust with powdered sugar (or a 50/50 mixture of sugar and cocoa).

Serves 12.

Nutrition values per serving: 270 calories (22 percent from fat), 6.6 g fat (1.6 g saturated), 52.4 g carbohydrates, 2.7 g fiber, 4.4 g protein, 37 mg cholesterol, 267 mg sodium.