Apple Cake

Ingredients

1 3/4 cups sugar
3 eggs
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons vanilla
pinch salt
1 cup raisins or dried, sweetened cherries or cranberries (called Craisins around here)
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
1 cup vegetable oil, or one cup of applesauce, or 1/2 cup oil and 1/2 cup applesauce
2 cups apples, peeled and chunked
1 teaspoon baking soda

6 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup milk
1/2 to 3/4 cup brown sugar
2-4 cups confectioners sugar

What to Do:

Cover raisins with water, cook for 3 minutes, drain well. Preheat oven to 325 degrees and grease a 13 x 9 inch pan. Mix dry ingredients together in a large mixing bowl. Make a well in the middle of the dry ingredients and add oil, eggs and vanilla. Mix thoroughly. Stir in raisins, nuts and apples. Pour into prepared pan and bake for 1 hour. Remove from oven and let cool before frosting.

Frosting: Combine the 6 tablespoons butter with the 1/4 cup milk and 1/2 to 3/4 cup brown sugar and boil for 2 minutes. Let cool. Mix in confectioners sugar 1 cup at a time until spreading consistency. After frosting, sprinkle some chopped nuts on top.

As an option, replace the frosting with ice-cream. This is a wonderful fall dessert, but it can also be used for a breakfast coffee cake. Delicious with a cup of good coffee!