SPICED CHOCOLATE APPLESAUCE CAKE

Steps:

• Sift together flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt; set aside.
• Cream together the shortening and sugar in a mixing bowl until light and fluffy, using an electric mixer at medium speed; add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Blend in vanilla and applesauce.
• Add dry ingredients alternately with buttermilk to creamed mixture, beating well after each addition.
• Beat in boiling water - (Batter should be thick.)
• Pour batter into greased and waxed paper-lined 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan; bake in preheated 350 oven for 1 hour or until cake tests done.
• Cool 10 minutes in pan on rack.
• Remove from pan; cool on rack.
• When cake is cooled, spread with Chocolate Fluff Frosting and cut in squares.
• CHOCOLATE FLUFF FROSTING: Melt chocolate over hot water; cool to room temperature.
• Blend together confectioners' sugar, butter, melted chocolate and vanilla in a bowl and beat until smooth.
• In another bowl, beat egg whites until soft peaks form, using an electric mixer at high speed.
• Gradually beat in 1 cup sifted confectioners' sugar, 2 tablespoons at a time, until egg white mixture is glossy and stiff.
• Fold in chocolate mixture into the beaten egg whites.