Apple Molasses Bread - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
3 eggs
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1 cup applesauce
1/4 cup dark molasses
1 cup raisins (optional) or 1 cup craisins (optional)
1/2 cup nuts, chopped

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Coat a 9-inch x 5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray.
In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
Combine flour, baking powder, salt, and spices; set aside.
Combine applesauce and molasses.
Add dry ingredients alternately with applesauce mixture to egg mixture. Fold in raisins and nuts.
Pour into loaf pan. Bake for 1 hour, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Cool 10 minutes, remove from pan and continue cooling on a wire rack.