Gumdrop Loaves

1 cup butter or margarine
2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
1 1/2 cups applesauce
2 eggs, well-beaten
1 teaspoon baking soda
4 cups flour, sifted before measuring
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon cloves
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup chopped nuts
1 pound raisins
2 pounds bright colored gumdrops, cut fine
    (do not use black gumdrops)

Cream butter and brown sugar. Mix in remaining ingredients in the order listed.

Bake in buttered loaf pans 1 1/2 to 2 hours at 350 degrees F.

Makes 2 loaves or more depending on size of pans used.

HINT: Cut the gumdrops with kitchen shears, dipping them in a glass of hot water when they get too sticky. Toss cut gumdrops and raisins with a small amount of the flour from the recipe. This coats them with a small amount of flour so that they do not clump together.