Applesauce Fruitcake

Fruitcake made with applesauce and maraschino cherries.

• Calories: 625 Calories

Ingredients

• 2 eggs
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 ½ cups chopped walnuts
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 ½ cups white sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 cup shortening
• 1 ½ cups dates, pitted and chopped
• 3 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
• 2 cups applesauce
• 1 ½ cups raisins
• 6 maraschino cherries, halved
• ½ cup maraschino cherries, coarsely chopped
• 6 pecan halves

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (160 degrees C). Grease a 10 inch tube pan. Line bottom with parchment paper and grease again.

Step 2

In large bowl, cream sugar and shortening until light and fluffy. Add eggs and blend well.

Step 3

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.

Step 4

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.

Step 5

Fold fruit and nut mixture and applesauce into batter. Pour batter into a 10 inch tube pan. Arrange cherry halves and pecans on top.

Step 6

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 onto wire rack and remove pan and parchment paper. Cool completely.