Applesauce Spice Cake
INGREDIENTS
- 2 ½ cups plain flour
- 1 cups sugar
- 2 cups unsweetened applesauce
- ½ cup vegetable shortening such as Crisco
- ½ cup water
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 1 ½ tsp baking soda
- 1 ½ tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground allspice
- ½ tsp ground cloves
- ½ tsp freshly grated nutmeg
- 1 cup chopped toasted walnuts
- 1 cup raisins
- FOR THE ICING:
- ¾ cup of softened butter
- 5 cups icing sugar, sifted
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 tsp lemon essence
DIRECTIONS
- Pre-heat the oven to 350*F.
- Lightly grease and flour a 9 by 15 inch baking pan and set aside.
- Sift together the flour, soda, baking powder, salt, spices and sugar into a large bowl.
- Drop in the shortening, applesauce, water and eggs.
- Beat it all together with an electric mixer until it is all smooth, beating well.
- Fold in the sultanas and walnuts.
- Spread evenly in the prepared pan.
- Bake for approximately 34 to 40 minutes or until lightly browned and the top springs back when lightly touched.
- Alternately you may use a toothpick to see if it is done, which when inserted will come out clean.
- Remove from the oven and place in the pan on a wire rack to cool completely.
- Once completely cool make the frosting.
- Beat the butter until light and fluffy and then beat in the remaining ingredients, beating until smooth and fluffy.
- Spread evenly across the top of the cake. (leave the cake in the pan and serve from there)
- If you want you can sprinkle more toasted walnuts over the top of the finished cake.