Great-uncle Harry was a chocolate fiend and always kept a packet of Hershey bars in the fridge. His wife pandered to his passion and made other treats to show her love for him. This is one of her signature desserts.Great-uncle Harry was a chocolate fiend and always kept a packet of Hershey bars in the fridge. His wife pandered to his passion and made other treats to show her love for him. This is one of her signature desserts.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup of butter or shortening. Melted butter speeds the process.
• 1 cup of sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 cup of applesauce
• 1.5 cups of all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup cocoa powder (sugarless, not instant cocoa)
• 1 tbsp instant coffee crystals/powder (okay, I usually skip this)
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp allspice
• 1 tsp baking soda

Method

1. Cream butter/shortening with sugar until light and fluffy.
2. Add egg. Beat well. Stir in applesauce.
3. Mix flour, cocoa, spices and baking soda. Sift three times. (I don't have a big sifter, so I just used my regular wire sieve; that worked great.)
4. Stir the dry mixture into the wet ingredients.
5. Coat the bottom of two 6'' x 3.75” x 2” aluminum foil loaf pans with spray cooking oil or butter. Transfer batter to the loaf pans.
6. Pour two cups of water in Speedi pot. Put tins onto tray in lower position. Set steam/bake for 18 minutes at 315°F. With the steaming this may take as long as 45 minutes. Don't panic.
7. Check for doneness with a toothpick. Remove promptly from Speedi.