1/2 cup shortening
1 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 cups stiff applesauce, preferably homemade,
    but a good quality canned applesauce will work
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup chopped nuts.
1/2 cup chopped candied red and/or
    green cherries (optional)

Grease and flour 4 empty Campbell soup cans. Shake out excess flour. Set aside.

Cream shortening and sugar. Stir in applesauce. Sift the flour, salt, soda, cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon together. Fold into creamed shortening mixture and stir until smooth. Turn into cans, dividing evenly. Bake at 325 degrees F for approximately 45 minutes, until a wooden pick inserted in middle comes out clean.

Remove from oven and let cool about 15 minutes.

Puncture bottom of can to release cakes and cool thoroughly before wrapping in plastic wrap, then colored cellophane wrap.

Makes 4 cans.