Never Fail Applesauce Spice Cake

Ingredients

• 2.5 cups all-purpose flour
• 1.75 cups white sugar
• 1.5 teaspoons baking soda
• 0.25 teaspoons salt
• 0.5 teaspoons baking powder
• 0.75 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 0.5 teaspoons ground cloves
• 0.5 teaspoons ground allspice
• 0.5 cups butter
• 0.5 cups buttermilk
• 1.5 cups applesauce
• 2 eggs
• 0.75 cups chopped walnuts
• 0.25 cups butter
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 4 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1 package cream cheese , 8 ounce
• 1.5 teaspoons vanilla extract

Instructions

1. 1

   Sift flour, white sugar, soda, salt, baking powder, and spices into a large mixing bowl. Mix in 1/2 cup butter or margarine, buttermilk, and applesauce. Beat for 2 minutes with an electric mixer on medium speed. Beat in eggs. Fold in 3/4 cup chopped nuts. Pour batter into a greased and floured 9 x 13 inch pan.

2. 2

   Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 50 minutes.

3. 3

   Mix confectioners' sugar, cream cheese, and vanilla until smooth. Melt 1/4 cup butter over medium heat, and add 1 cup chopped pecans. Keep stirring until browned. Stir cooled pecans into cream cheese mixture. Frost the cooled cake.