Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375 F. Lightly butter two small or one large loaf pan and line with parchment paper.
2. Use an electric or handheld mixer to cream butter and two sugars together until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.
3. Add eggs one at a time, scraping down sides of bowl after each addition.
4. Stir in applesauce/ baking soda mixture.
5. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, salt and spices to break up lumps.
6. Add flour mixture to wet ingredients and stir until just combined.
7. Toss pear or apple with flour and fold into batter.
8. Pour batter into pan and bake for 45- 50 minutes, until a cake tester or toothpick comes out clean.
9. Let cool in pan 10 minutes, then carefully turn out onto a wire rack to finish cooling.
10. When cool, sift over powdered sugar or make a glaze (see below).
11. To make glaze, pour enough liquid into powdered sugar to make a thick, pourable glaze.
12. Pour glaze into zip top bag, secure top with a rubber band and snip one corner to make a pastry bag. (See Old fashioned peach cake for demos.)
13. When the cake is cool, place on a plate with a few small pieces of parchment underneath the cake to catch drips. Make a decorative pattern (crisscross or just poured) on top of cake, let dry, then remove parchment pieces where the glaze has dripped. Serves 18 – 20.