Makeover Holiday Loaf Recipe

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup golden raisins and cherries
• 3/4 cup chopped walnuts
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 1/4 cup shortening
• 1/4 cup brown sugar blend
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup molasses
• 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1-1/4 teaspoons baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 3/4 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 3/4 cup fat-free milk

Directions

• Coat a 9-in. x 5-in. loaf pan with cooking spray. Line the bottom with waxed paper; spray the paper and sprinkle with flour. Set aside.
• Combine the golden raisins and cherries, walnuts and raisins. Set aside. In a large bowl, beat shortening and brown sugar blend until well blended. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in molasses and applesauce (mixture will appear curdled).
• Combine the flour, cinnamon, baking powder, nutmeg, allspice, salt, baking soda and cloves; add to shortening mixture alternately with milk. Fold in raisin mixture.
• Transfer to prepared pan. Bake at 325° for 55-65 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in the refrigerator. Yield: 1 loaf (16 slices).

Makeover Holiday Loaf published in Healthy Cooking December/January 2009, p17