Notes: Makes 3 small loaves. Bake several weeks before the holidays and periodically drizzle with rum, brandy, whiskey or grape juice to keep it moist and tasty.

4 cups flour, sifted

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon cloves

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 pound golden raisins

1 pound large gumdrops, omit licorice flavored ones

1 cup nuts, chopped

1 cup butter

2 cups sugar

2 eggs, well beaten

1 1/2 cups unsweetened applesauce

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 tablespoon hot water

1 teaspoon vanilla

• Sift and measure flour. Add spices and salt; sift again. Set aside.
• Cut gumdrops and add part of dry ingredients to raisins. Add gumdrops and chopped nuts; set aside.
• Cream butter and sugar. Add well beaten eggs and mix together. Alternating, add the flour mixture and applesauce to creamed mixture.
• Dissolve baking soda in hot water. Add vanilla and mix into batter. Add floured raisins, gumdrops and nuts.
• Pour into 2 or 3 loaf pans lined with greased brown paper. Bake at 300 F degrees about 2 hours.