Applesauce Fruitcake

Ingredients:
    
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1 cup shortening
2 eggs
3 1/4 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground allspice
1 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts
1 1/2 cups raisins or currants
1 1/2 cups dates, pitted and chopped
1/2 cup maraschino cherries, coarsely chopped
2 cups applesauce
 
Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
2. Grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan. Line bottom with wax paper and grease again.
3. In large bowl, cream sugar and shortening until light and fluffy. Add eggs and blend well.
4. Combine 1/2 cup of flour with nuts, raisins, dates and 1/2 cup cherries, stir until coated. Set aside.
5. Add remaining 2 3/4 cups flour, baking soda, cinnamon, allspice, cloves and salt to egg mixture. Blend at low speed until moistened, then beat 2 minutes on medium speed.
6. Fold fruit and nut mixture and applesauce into batter. Pour batter into a 10-inch tube pan.
7. Arrange cherry halves and pecans on top.
8. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour and 15 to 45 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes clean.
9. Cool upright in pan 5 minutes. Turn upright onto wire rack and remove pan and parchment paper. Cool completely.