Ron’s Favorite Applesauce-Date Cake

 Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp. baking soda
• ¼ tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
• ½ tsp. ground allspice
• ½ tsp. ground nutmeg
• ¼ tsp. ground cloves
• 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 2 cups warm applesauce, divided
• ½ cup butter or margarine, softened
• 2 eggs
• ¾ cup coarsely chopped walnuts
• ½ cup chopped dates

 Cream Cheese Frosting:

• 3 oz. cream cheese, softened
• 1 tbsp. butter or margarine, softened
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 cups sifted powdered sugar

 Method:

Combine flour, soda, salt, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg and cloves in a large bowl; stir well. Add brown sugar, 1 cup applesauce, butter and eggs; beat at low speed of an electric mixer 1 minute or until mixture is blended. Beat at medium speed 2 minutes. Add remaining 1 cup applesauce, coarsely chopped walnuts and chopped dates, and stir well. Pour batter into a greased and floured 9-inch square baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 50 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Let cake cool completely in pan on a wire rack. For the cream cheese frosting, combine cream cheese, butter and vanilla in a small mixing bowl; beat at medium speed of an electric mixer until mixture is light and fluffy. Add powdered sugar, beating until mixture is smooth. Spread cream cheese frosting evenly on top of cake.

Makes 9 servings

 Tested in the THASC kitchen. Photo by THASC.

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