Applesauce Loaf

Applesauce Loaf
If you’ve never tried this, you’re in for a special holiday treat.

1 cup granulated sugar
½ cup butter, softened
1 large egg, room temperature
1½ cups all-purpose flour
1½ teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
¾ teaspoon nutmeg
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground cloves
1½ cups unsweetened applesauce
½ cup dark raisins
½ cup coarsely chopped walnuts (optional)
Confectioners’ sugar (for dusting)

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a 9” × 5” loaf pan.
2. In a medium bowl, cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
3. Beat in eggs.
4. In another bowl, mix together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and cloves.
Gradually beat flour mixture into butter mixture.
5. Beat in applesauce.
6. Stir in raisins and nuts.
7. Pour batter into prepared pan.
8. Bake loaf for 1 hour, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Transfer
pan to wire rack. Cool for 10 minutes. Remove loaf from pan and cool completely.
9. Dust with confectioners’ sugar.