1 cup butter or margarine, softened
2 cups sugar
2 cups applesauce
4 eggs
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 pound candy orange slices
2 cups chopped pecans
2 cups flaked coconut
1 1/2 cups candied cherries
1 ~ 8 ounce package chopped dates
3 1/2 cups all ~ purpose flour, divided
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt


Recipe Directions
  In a glass mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar. Beat in the applesauce, eggs and buttermilk. In a separate glass bowl, combine the orange slices, pecans, coconut, cherries, dates and 1 cup of flour; toss to coat. Combine the baking soda, salt and remaining flour; add to the buttermilk mixture. Fold in orange slice mixture. Pour into a well greased and floured 10 ~ inch tube pan or . Bake at 300 º for 1 ~ 3/4 to 2 hours or until a toothpick inserted near the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from cake pan to a cooling wire rack to cool completely. Serves 10.