3 c. flour
2 c. sugar
1 tbsp. cocoa
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. cloves
1 tsp. allspice
1 tsp. nutmeg
3/4 c. butter
2 c. warm unsweetened applesauce
1 c. sour milk
2 tsp. baking soda
1 c. raisins
1 c. nutmeats
1/4 lb. or 1 sm. box of citron, orange and lemon peel, candied cherries and pineapple

Cream butter and add warm applesauce. Add sour milk in which soda has been dissolved. Sift flour, sugar, cocoa and spices together and add to above mixture. Add fruit and nuts which have been dredged in some of the measured flour. Pour into a well greased and floured cake pan. Bake in a very moderate oven. Time and temperature depend on the type of pan used. If baked in tube pan, use moderate temperature (300 degrees) about 1 1/2 hours. A more shallow pan will require about an hour.

ICING:

1 c. thick cream
1/2 c. sugar
2/3 c. dates

Cook dates in 1/2 cup water. Boil sugar and cream together until makes a caramel. Stir dates into it.