TERRY'S INFAMOUS "CHRISTMAS CAKE"

Every year, Terry makes his annual Christmas Cake.  He has been making it since before we were even married--he said he guessed about 40 years!  It's an old family recipe, from his Grandmother Ahrens--and it was probably her mother's.  It just wouldn't be Christmas without him stirring and baking away in the kitchen a few days before Christmas.  I will say that the cake is especially good--but awfully rich!  It is full of nuts, dates and raisins.  He uses a quart of our homemade chunky applesauce, which makes it so good!   It's heavy and moist, and it has a cooked caramel frosting.  I can eat a little piece, but it is also a tradition that Terry eats most of the cake himself!  It's too full of nuts for the kids to eat.  He does divide the batter, though, and makes his brother a small cake--that's a tradition, too.    Here is his recipe for this rich, sweet, nut-and fruit-filled cake with cooked caramel icing.  (I have the adjustments he has made in the recipe underlined).

TERRY'S CHRISTMAS CAKE

1/2 Cup butter

2 Cups sugar

2 eggs, beaten

1 quart applesauce

3 Cups chopped dates

2 Cups cooked raisins

1 Cup pineapple tidbits OR crushed pineapple, drained

1/2 Cup cooked raisin juice OR milk

1 teaspoon soda

2 teaspoon baking powder

4 Cups flour

1 teaspoon lemon flavoring

1/2-1 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2-1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon cloves

3 Cups Walnuts and Pecans

Cream sugar and butter.  Add eggs and blend well.  Add applesauce, raisins, dates, pineapple tidbits, and raisin juice or milk.  Add soda, baking powder, spices and lemon flavor.  Stir well.  Stir in flour, 1 Cup at a time, stirring well after each addition.  Bake in a slow oven (300 degrees), for about an hour, or until toothpick comes out clean.  Cool, then frost with caramel frosting. 

COOKED CARAMEL FROSTING

1 Cup brown sugar, packed

1 Cup white sugar

1 Cup cream

Boil until mixture forms a soft ball in ice water.  Pour over cake.  Keep cake wrapped with foil to keep the cake moist.  The cake is rich, small pieces are adequate.  Nice with vanilla ice cream!