Country Applesauce Cake
A moist, flavorful applesauce cake packed with raisins, dates, and nuts, perfect for cozy gatherings and those who appreciate warm spices and rich textures.
Ingredients
- 3 cups minus 2 tablespoons plain flour ⓘ
- 2 teaspoons baking soda ⓘ
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves ⓘ
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon ⓘ
- 2 cups sugar ⓘ
- 2 large eggs ⓘ
- 1 cup dark seedless raisins ⓘ
- 2 cups chopped pecans or walnuts ⓘ
- 1 teaspoon baking powder ⓘ
- 1/2 teaspoon salt ⓘ
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg ⓘ
- 3/4 cup solid vegetable shortening ⓘ
- 2 cups applesauce ⓘ
- 1 1/2 cups chopped dates ⓘ
- milk (if needed) ⓘ
Instructions
- Grease and flour a 10-inch tube pan.
- Sift flour with baking powder, baking soda, salt, ground cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat shortening with sugar until creamy.
- Beat in eggs, one at a time, until mixture is smooth and creamy.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Add sifted ingredients to egg mixture a third at a time, alternating with applesauce, and mix well.
- If batter is very stiff, add up to 1/4 cup milk and mix.
- Stir in raisins, chopped dates, and chopped pecans or walnuts.
- Transfer batter to the prepared cake pan and smooth the top to level the batter.
- Bake for 1 hour and 30 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean and the cake is well browned.
- Remove the pan from the oven and run a knife around the edge of the cake.
- Place the pan on a wire rack and cool for 1 hour.
- Remove the cake from the pan and let cool completely.
- Keep the cake for at least 1 day before cutting to enhance flavor.
Nutrition & Diet Analysis (per serving)
1157
kcal
58% DV
Protein
Fat
Carbs
Diet fit
High-fiber
Contains
Milk
Egg
Wheat/Gluten
Tree nuts
Estimated from ingredients & per-serving nutrition — verify against package labels for allergies or strict diets.
* % Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet (FDA 2020).
Nutrition is estimated from USDA FoodData Central ingredient data and may vary with brand, portion and preparation — see our methodology. This information is for general educational purposes only and is not medical or dietary advice (disclaimer).