Applesauce Cake

Tom has been bugging me to make Applesauce Cake, so, having some free time this morning, I made it.

Applesauce cake

• 2 1/2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
• 1 3/4 cups sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon allspice
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1 15-ounce can unsweetened applesauce (1 3/4 cups)
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup seedless raisins, chopped
• 1 cup walnuts, finely chopped (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Grease well and flour 13-by-9-inch baking pan.
3. Sift flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt and spices into a large mixing bowl of electric mixer. Add shortening and applesauce; beat 1 minute at low speed, just to combine.
4. At medium speed, beat 2 minutes, constantly cleaning side of bowl with rubber scraper and guiding batter into beaters. Add eggs and beat 2 minutes more.
5. Combine raisins and walnuts (if using) and gently fold into batter.
6. Turn batter into prepared pan; bake for 45 minutes, or until cake tester inserted in center comes out clean.
7. Let cake cool completely in pan on wire rack.
8. Frost as desired.

Tom said it was good, but a little dry. He recommended either adding more applesauce, or baking it for less time. He also noted that the raisins kind of sunk to the bottom. I think that's because I didn't chop them up. I tried it and thought it was good, but I didn't have any expectations.