Serves 16

Ingredients:

3 cups all-purpose flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon allspice
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
3 large eggs
2 cups grated Braeburn or Golden Delicious apples
1 cup prepared mincemeat
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 to 2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
Hard Sauce (optional; recipe follows)

Hard Sauce
In medium bowl with electric mixer, beat 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine and 1/8 teaspoon salt on high speed until light. Gradually beat in 1 cup confectioners’ sugar. Stir in 1 tablespoon brandy. Refrigerate 1 hour.

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 10-inch fluted tube pan. In large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, allspice, cinnamon, and salt; set aside.
2. In large bowl with electric mixer, beat oil and brown sugar until blended. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add half the dry ingredients and mix until combined. Stir in apple, mincemeat, pecans, and vanilla. Add remaining dry ingredients; beat until well combined. Spread batter in prepared pan and bake 1 hour or until wooden pick inserted near center comes out clean. Meanwhile, prepare Hard Sauce, if desired.
3. Cool cake in pan 15 minutes. Turn cake out onto wire rack and cool completely. When cool, dust cake with confectioners’ sugar. If desired, serve with Hard Sauce.