2 c. unsifted all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. allspice
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. cloves
1/4 tsp. salt
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1 c. light brown sugar, firmly packed
1/2 c. soft butter
2 c. hot applesauce
1 c. chopped dates, coated with handful of the flour mixture
3/4 c. coarsely chopped nuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 9 x 9 x 2 inch baking pan.

Into large bowl sift flour with soda, nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice, cloves and salt. Add eggs, brown sugar, soft butter and 1 cup of the applesauce. Careful, do not cook eggs with hot applesauce. Beat at low speed just until the ingredients are combined.

At medium speed beat 2 minutes. Occasionally scraping side of bowl, guiding mixture back into beater. Add remaining applesauce, dates and nuts; beat 1 minute. Pour into prepared pan. Bake 45-50 minutes. (Top if cake will crack.) Cool in pan 10 minutes.

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING:

1 (3 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened
1 tbsp. soft butter
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 c. sifted confectioners' sugar

In small bowl combine cream cheese, butter and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Add sugar. If too stiff add a tablespoon of milk.