D-Gumdrop Fruit Cake
["1 c. butter", "2 c. sugar", "2 eggs", "1 1/2 c. applesauce", "4 c. flour", "1 lb. white raisins", "1/2 tsp. salt", "1 tsp. baking soda dissolved in 1 Tbsp. hot water", "1 lb. gumdrops (fruit flavors only)", "1 c. chopped pecans"]
["Cut gumdrops into small pieces.", "Cream butter and sugar together.", "Add well beaten eggs.", "Add flour and applesauce alternately.", "Stir in baking soda and 1 teaspoon vanilla.", "Fold in nuts, raisins and gumdrops (chopped candied cherries and candied pineapple may be added for variety).", "Bake slowly in about 250\u00b0 oven approximately 3 hours.", "Will make 4 small loaves or one large tube pan.", "I use all orange slices, 2 pounds."]
["butter", "sugar", "eggs", "applesauce", "flour", "white raisins", "salt", "baking soda", "pecans"]