applesauce fruitcake

Ingredients

• Servings: 1
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 1 cup shortening
• 2 eggs
• 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts
• 1 1/2 cups raisins
• 1 1/2 cups dates, pitted and chopped
• 1/2 cup maraschino cherries, coarsely chopped
• 2 cups applesauce
• 6 maraschino cherries, halved
• 6 pecan halves

Recipe

• preheat oven to 325 degrees f (160 degrees c). grease a 10 inch tube pan. line bottom with parchment paper and grease again.
• in large bowl, cream sugar and shortening until light and fluffy. add eggs and blend well.
• lightly spoon flour into measuring cup; level off. combine 1/2 cup of flour with nuts, raisins, dates and 1/2 cup cherries, stir until coated. set aside.
• add remaining 2 3/4 cups flour, baking soda, cinnamon, allspice, cloves and salt to egg mixture. blend at low speed until moistened, then beat 2 minutes on medium speed.
• fold fruit and nut mixture and applesauce into batter. pour batter into a 10 inch tube pan. arrange cherry halves and pecans on top.
• bake at 325 degrees f (160 degrees c) for 1hour and 15 to 45 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes clean. cool upright in pan 5 minutes. turn upright wire rack and remove pan and parchment paper. cool completely.