1-1/2 cups unsalted butter, softened
3 cups packed brown sugar ……………….…… 6 eggs
9 cups golden raisins or Craisins ++ ………… 2-3 lbs gumdrops
3 cups unsweetened applesauce ……………… 3 tsp baking soda
6 cups all-purpose flour ………………………..…. 3 TB hot water
3 tsp EACH salt AND ground cinnamon
1 cup chopped nuts (pecans or walnuts)
2 cups red and/or green candied cherries
In a medium bowl, mix 1 cup flour into gumdrops, cherries, nuts, and raisins.
In a large bowl, beat butter, sugar, and eggs. Mix in applesauce. Stir remaining flour, salt, and cinnamon into creamed mixture. Dissolve soda dissolved in hot water. Mix into batter well. Stir in floured fruit.
Line an angel food cake pan with parchment paper, and grease with butter or spray. Pour batter to within one inch of the top of pan. ***
Bake 2-3 hours at 300 degrees. When nearly done, cover top of cake with a piece of tinfoil to prevent top of cake from overcooking. When cake tests done with toothpick, let cool in pan on wire rack; invert.
*** Could also do in 3-4 loaf pans (prepare the same way), but reduce cooking time to 1-1/2 to 2 hours.
++ If raisins/Craisins are hard, simmer them in orange juice or water for about 5 minutes ~ drain and use
GLAZE: Start with 1 cup of powdered sugar, and whisk in liquid 1 TB at a time until desired consistency to brush on cake(s). Adjust consistency by adding more sugar/liquid. Can use apple or orange juice as the liquid.