James Westfall’s Applesauce Cake

Ingredients

• Cooking spray
• 2 2/3 cups white sugar
• 2/3 cup butter-flavored shortening
• 4 large eggs
• 1 3/4 cups applesauce
• 2/3 cup water
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 1/2 cups raisins
• 2/3 cup chopped walnuts

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray a fluted cake pan with cooking spray.

Beat sugar and shortening together in a bowl using an electric mixer until smooth and creamy; beat in eggs until incorporated.

Combine applesauce, water, and baking soda in a saucepan over medium heat; stir until heated through, about 2 minutes. Stir applesauce mixture into shortening mixture; add vanilla extract.

Whisk flour, cinnamon, salt, baking powder, and ground cloves together in a bowl. Gradually stir applesauce mixture into flour mixture until just combined. Fold in raisins and walnuts. Pour into prepared cake pan.

Bake in the preheated oven until golden and a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean, about 1 hour. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes and transfer cake to a plate.