Ginger Guinness Cake

1 1/4 c. flour
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 c. brown sugar
4 1/2 tbsp butter, softened
1 large egg
1/3 c. applesauce
1/4 c. molasses
1/3 c. flat Guinness stout
whipped topping

Preheat oven to 350-degrees. Coat 9"-round cake pan with baking/cooking spray; set aside.

Combine flour, ginger, cinnamon, baking soda and salt in a bowl - stir with a whisk.

Place brown sugar and butter in mixing bowl and beat at medium-high speed until well-blended (about 3 minutes). Add the egg and beat well. Beat in applesauce and molasses (batter may look slightly curdled). Reduce mixing speed to low. Add 1/3 of the flour mixture and beat until just blended. Repeat procedure with remaining flour mixture. Add stout and beat until just blended.

Scrape batter into prepared cake pan. Bake for 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the middle of the cake comes out clean. Cool in pan on wire rack for 10 minutes; remove from pan. Cool completely. Serve with whipped topping.