Applesauce Cake

Applesauce Cake from Grandma Blackham

3 1/3 cups flour

2 2/3 cups sugar

2 tsp soda

1 ½ tsp salt

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp cinnamon

½ tsp cloves

½ tsp allspice

2/3 cup shortening

2/3 cup water

2 cups applesauce

2 eggs

Mix dry ingredients in bowl.  Add shortening, and mix with electric mixer until crumbly.  Add water, applesauce, eggs and nuts and raisins if desired.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes or until done. 

Cake can be made in 2 loaf pans, a 9 x 13 pan, 3-9inch round pans or bundt pan

I frost with either an orange icing or caramel icing when making layer cake

Here's the caramel frosting I use and I do 1 1/2 - 2 times the recipe for triple layer round cake

Quick Caramel Frosting

1 stick (8 tbs.) butter

1/2 cup lightly packed brown sugar

1/2 cup lightly packed dark brown sugar

1/4 cup + 2 tbs. milk

2 cups confectioners sugar, sifted

1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

Place butter & brown sugars in a heavy, medium sized saucepan over medium heat.

Cook stirring constantly, until the mixture comes to a boil, then remove pan from heat.

Add 1 1/2 cups of the confectioners sugar and the vanilla and whisk until the frosting is smooth.

Add the rest of the confectioners sugar, a little at a time, until of smooth, spreading consistency.

Ladle the frosting over the cake layers or spoon over cupcakes while frosting is still warm; it will set as it cools.