Christmas is the feast commemorating the birth of Christ. It is fixed in the liturgical year as December 25th and is preceded by four week of fasting called Advent.Light Applesauce Fruitcake
- 1 cup butter, at room temperature
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 eggs, at room temperature
- 2 tsp. vanilla
- 2 cups pitted dates, chopped course
- 3 cups applesauce
- 2 cups walnuts, chopped coarse
- 2 cups raisins
- 2 cups mixed candied fruit, chopped coarse
- ½ tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp. ground cloves
- 1 tbsp. baking soda
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
Cream the butter and sugar together. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, along with the vanilla. Add the remaining ingredients and blend until all is incorporated. Divide the batter among 3 greased loaf pans, approximately 8 x 4 x 3 inches each. Bake in a preheated 350ºF oven for 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Remove to a cooling rack. When cool enough to handle, remove the loaves from the pans and cool completely on the rack. Wrap in plastic wrap and keep in the freezer.
