Applesauce With Cranberry Loaf Cake - cooking recipe

Ingredients

LOAF CAKE
8 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup sugar
1 large egg, at room temperature
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup thick unsweetened applesauce
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 cup craisins (dried cranberries or use raisins)
1/2 cup walnuts, finely chopped
GLAZE
6 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 cups confectioners' sugar

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350F and prepare a 9x5 inch loaf pan with butter (or cooking spray) and then line bottom of loaf pan with parchment and butter the paper.
Beat butter and sugar with a mixer until light and fluffy. Beat in egg.
Stir baking soda into applesauce.
Mix dry ingredients, theen add to butter mixture in 3 additions, alternating with applesauce.
Stir in Craisins (and walnuts if using).
Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 45-50 minutes (or until toothpick test passes).
Cool in pan on a wire rack for 10-15 minutes then turn out onto rack.
Make glaze by mixing lemon juice and confectioner's sugar and spoon glaze over cooled cake (this step is optional if you are not using it as a dessert).