Aww look, it’s fun-sized!
Spice up your life
I was in fourth grade when the Spice Girls hit the scene. My friend Jackie got their album for Christmas, and we’d dance around the house to it, wearing crazy outfits and hairdos. (One of the songs was called “Naked.” Jackie’s mom made sure we always skipped over it!)
Fun-sized Spice Cake
Today’s recipe was inspired by my Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bars.
Initially, I’d aimed to make a maple version of the bars. However, the first attempt lacked any maple flavor whatsoever, and so I decided to make spice bars instead. In reaching for a new baking dish (for attempt #2), I happened upon a mini springform pan. And thus, this little spice cake was born. As I tried to think of a name, I kept going back to the fact that it’s a baby spice cake—just like the singer! (For those of you who weren’t teens in the 90s, that would be Emma Bunton, also known as “Baby Spice.”)
What singers or bands were popular when you were growing up?
I was a teen in the 90s, so groups like Blink 182, N’Sync, and the Backstreet Boys played at my middle-school dances. Oh, and Britney Spears, Hanson, and the Spice Girls.
I never got caught up in the Hanson craze, but a few of the girls in my class wanted to marry those boys! And my friend Robin actually bought the Spice Girls movie. (One of only three copies sold?) She made me watch it with her; as expected, it was awful! Aliens abducting the main characters? Really?? Someone thought that was a good idea?
Many of you will appreciate that this recipe is fat-free.
I didn’t actually set out to make it that way. But the batter looked too gooey, after I put in all the applesauce, to add any more liquid. Luckily, this doesn’t taste fat-free (especially when it’s frosted). But you can always replace some of the applesauce with oil if you so desire.
Eggnog “Baby Spice” Cake
(Makes 2-4 servings)
- 1/2 cup spelt or all purpose flour
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking powder
- pinch stevia or 2 tbsp sugar
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 1 1/2 tbsp agave or pure maple syrup
- 2 tbsp milk of choice, such as almond milk or even vegan eggnog!
- 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup applesauce
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1/8 tsp ground cloves
- optional: raisins, walnuts, pecans, etc.
Combine dry ingredients and mix very well. In a separate bowl, mix wet ingredients (including applesauce), then pour dry into wet. Stir until just combined, then pour into a greased pan (I used a mini springform, but a 4×7 would also work), and cook at 350 F for 20-25 minutes, depending on the depth of your dish. Allow to cool for 10 minutes before removing the springform.
Frost with: Creamy Dreamy Frosting.
For fun, I added a tiny bit of rum to the frosting. But you can opt to leave it out or even use rum extract. And feel free to use a different frosting recipe if you’d prefer. Or you could always opt to pay tribute to the UK, home of the Spice Girls, and top this cake with Marmite. But I wouldn’t recommend that. No, not at all!
I think I was a freshmand or sophomore when the spice girls were “big” because I can remember singing it at soccer practices. haha!
At least one good thing came out of that group…this cake! 🙂
the spice girls movie actually didn’t do too bad I don’t think. It certainly wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be. I too watched it because of my best friend, though it was my dad who bought it … for himself.
I remember that movie! I think I actually loved it, but I guess I was a bit younger than you and maybe thought the whole alien thing was a clever idea? Who knows… but I love all that music, such good memories! I also loved BeWitched, Alanis Morrisette (still love her!), Third Eye Blind…
Hahah I went to go see that movie in theaters. Oh dear. I was also crazy in love with nsync. I may still have a crush on Justin Timberlake… shhh
Idea for maple flavor: Grade B maple syrup is WAY more flavorful, and Ive found that the taste has more staying power in baked goods of all sorts! I dont know which kind you tried, but people usually go for Grade A because they think of it as higher quality: false!!! Its super yummy!
Band I listened to growing up? Pete Seeger and Ace of Base My mother was a complete old hippy…..but indulged my need for mindlessly positive pseudo-techno! I still listen to, and love, both artists today!
(my sister was the Spice Girls fan though, so I heard a fair bit of them too)
Oh wow, thanks for the tip! Yes, I did use grade A.
I’m putting grade B on my shopping list right now :).
i love these “warming” spices! put them in my coffee & my hommade protein bars! so good!
lol my mom would say the same thing about the naked song! too funny! this cake looks so good and perfect size for me and my mom to split! so excited!
Come on! The Spice Girls movie was awesomely awful! I would watch it right now if I had a copy!
My friends and I were totally obsessed with the Backstreet Boys. We each had our favorite boy and all of our rooms were covered in posters and Tiger Beat pictures! LOL
This looks delightful!
The spice girls were big for me too–I remember watching spice world at my very first slumber party! I believe it was in second grade? Maybe third or fourth?
And, in addition to all those that you mentioned, Christina Aguilera and Destiny’s Child were big for me!
Haha, I love your references to music or movies! I am waiting for a another one to Friends! I always get those!