Try apple cider in a spicy cake

Most people enjoy cider as a beverage but don't think of it as an ingredient in cooking. This spicy cake takes only a cup of cider, but it has a special tang that puts the cake in the same category as gingerbread and makes it a favorite standby. Cider Spice Cake 2 1/4 cups unsifted cake flour 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoons baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice 2/3 cups margarine, soft 1 1/2 cups sugar 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla 2 eggs 1 cup apple cider

Combine thoroughly the flour, baking powder, soda, salt, cinnamon, cloves, and allspice and set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, cream together soft margarine and sugar until light. Beat in vanilla. Combine eggs and cider and mix with a fork. Add to creamed mixture alternately with dry ingredients on low speed, beating well after each addition. Pour into two greased and floured 9-inch cake pans.

Bake at 350 degrees F. about 30 minutes, or until done. Cool 10 minutes. Remove from pans and finish cooling on racks. Spread Walnut Frosting, or your favorite icing, between layers and on top. Walnut Frosting 1/3 cup margarine, soft 1 cup unsifted confectioners' sugar 4 tablespoons skim milk 1 teaspoon vanilla 3 additional cups confectioners' sugar 1/4 cup walnut halves

Cream margarine until light and beat in 1 cup sugar. Add milk and vanilla and blend. Beat in about 3 more cups sugar, unsifted, or enough to make a smooth, spreadable frosting. Decorate with walnut halves.