Spice Cake

This cake gets inhaled every time I make it. It is so moist and delicious.

Ingredients

CAKE

• 2 cups all-purpose flour

• 2 cups sugar

• 1 1/2 cups applesauce

• 1/2 cup butter, softened

• 2 eggs

• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

• 3/4 cup raisins

• Optional: 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

FROSTING

• 1/3 cup butter

• 3 cups powdered sugar

• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

• 2 to 3 tablespoons milk

Instructions

Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour 13x9-inch baking pan; set aside.

Combine all cake ingredients except raisins and pecans in bowl. Beat at low speed, scraping bowl often, until ingredients are moistened. Beat at high speed, scraping bowl often, until smooth. Stir in raisins and nuts. Pour into prepared pan. Bake 35-40 minutes or until center is firm to the touch and edges begin to pull away from sides of pan. Cool completely.

Melt 1/3 cup butter in 1-quart saucepan over medium heat. Continue cooking, stirring constantly and watching closely, 4-6 minutes or until butter just starts to turn golden. (Butter will get foamy and bubble.) Remove from heat. Cool completely.

Combine browned butter, powdered sugar and 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla in bowl. Beat at medium speed, gradually adding milk and scraping bowl often, until frosting is smooth and spreadable. Frost cooled cake.