Applesauce Muffins = Love

My baby brother is out of the hospital today after a short stay, so I thought I'd be a good sister and make him his favourite treat. We grew up eating these, so they're kind of the taste of our childhood. Also, he was always a really picky eater and these were one of the few things he would eat. They are apple-y and spice-y and almost more cake-like than muffin-like... yum!

Applesauce Muffins:
1 cup margarine
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
3 tsp vanilla
1 tsp cloves
2 tsp allspice
3 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp baking soda
4 cups flour
1 can unsweetened applesauce
3/4 cup chocolate chips (optional)
icing sugar (optional)

Cream the first four ingredients together, then add the spices and baking soda. Mix in the applesauce and the flour. Stir in the chocolate chips. Fill muffin cups 3/4 full and bake in a 400F/200C oven for 15 minutes or more (until a toothpick comes out clean). When done, place on a wire rack and sift over icing sugar then leave to cool. Alternately, this can also be baked as a loaf for 50-70 minutes.