Applesauce Cake

Applesauce Cake

INGREDIENTS:
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 cup dried cranberries

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups applesauce
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
2 tablespoons powdered sugar

DIRECTIONS:
Heat oven to 350ºF. Grease bottom and side of 12-cup fluted tube cake pan with shortening; lightly flour. Toss 1 tablespoon flour and the cranberries to coat; set aside. In large bowl, mix 2 1/2 cups flour, the pumpkin pie spice, salt, baking powder and baking soda; set aside.

In large bowl, beat granulated sugar and butter with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds, scraping bowl constantly. Beat on high speed, scraping bowl occasionally, until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time, until smooth and blended. Reduce mixer speed to medium. Gradually beat in flour mixture alternately with applesauce until smooth. Stir in cranberry-flour mixture and walnuts. Pour into pan.

Bake 50 to 60 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pan to wire rack. Cool completely, about 2 hours. Sprinkle powdered sugar over cake.

Makes 16 servings

Substitution
Use 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg and 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice for the pumpkin pie spice.