Cream shortening and sugar, add eggs and cream together. Add applesauce, baking soda, baking powder, salt and spices and enough flour to make a stiff batter, about 2 sives of flour (about 8 cups).

Drench gum drops and fruit in additional flour, 8-10 cups (keeps fruit and candy from sticking together).

Line loaf tins with ungreased wax paper.

Bake at 325 for 1 3/4 hours. Makes 6 loaf cakes.

Additional notes:

Cut the gumdrops (or spice drops) before you do anything else. Keep flour handy to coat your scissors or knife with on a very frequent basis. Do not include any of the black or purple drops in your mixture.

Place the raisins in just enough water to steam them and cool before adding to flour.

Eggs can be increased to up to 6

1/2 lb of citron may be added to mixture

Yield may be increased to 10 loaves by doubling the pastry amounts with the same amount of fruit. Bake at 300 for 2 1/2 hours – 3 hours.