Gumdrop Loaves

Yield: 2 loaves or more depending on size of pans used

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter
• 2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
• 1 1/2 cups applesauce
• 2 eggs, well-beaten
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 4 cups all-purpose flour, sifted before measuring
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon cloves
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup chopped nuts
• 1 pound raisins
• 2 pounds bright colored gumdrops, cut fine*

Instructions

1. Cream butter and brown sugar.
2. Mix in remaining ingredients in the order listed.
3. Bake in buttered loaf pans 1 1/2 to 2 hours at 350 degrees F.

Notes

* Do not use black gumdrops.

Hint: Cut the gumdrops with kitchen shears, dipping them in a glass of hot water when they get too sticky. Toss cut gumdrops and raisins with a small amount of the flour from the recipe. This coats them with a small amount of flour so that they do not clump together.