Country Applesauce Cake - cooking recipe

Ingredients

3 c. minus 2 Tbsp. plain flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. ground cloves
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
2 c. sugar
2 large eggs
1 c. dark seedless raisins
2 c. chopped pecans or walnuts
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. ground nutmeg
3/4 c. solid vegetable shortening (room temperature)
2 c. applesauce
1 1/2 c. chopped dates
milk (if needed)

Preparation

Grease and flour a 10-inch tube pan.
Sift flour with baking powder, baking soda, salt and spices.
In a large mixing bowl, beat shortening with sugar.
When mixed, beat in eggs, one at a time until mixture is creamy.
Heat oven to 350\u00b0.
Add sifted ingredients to egg mixture a third at a time, alternating with applesauce.
If batter seems very stiff, add up to 1/4 cup milk. Stir in raisins, dates and pecans.
Transfer batter to prepared cake pan and smooth top so that batter is level.
Bake for 1 1/2 hours until well browned and a cake tester comes out clean.
Remove pan from oven, run a knife around cake and put pan on a wire rack to cool for 1 hour.
Remove cake from pan and let cool completely. Keep at least 1 day before cutting.