Must make note of this newly discovered way to jazz up the flavor, texture and healthiness of Dr. Oetker's organic boxed Cake Mix.

Add:

-1/2 cup bran

-1/2 cup grated brocolli, carrots or zucchini

-1/2 cup candied x-mas fruit

-3 cubes (thawed) frozen or 3 teaspoons grated fresh ginger

-few good shakes of allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg

-tiny sprinkle of cloves

-1/2 cup teensy, Iranian sour cherries, cranberries or regular sour cherries soaked in 1/4 cup Sambucca

-1/4 cup grated orange rind

-1/3 cup bran oil

-1/2 cup chopped walnuts

-4 egg whites

-2 egg yolks

-3/4 cup water

-3/4 cup Splenda brown sugar.

Beat ingredients together.

Pour batter into large cake pan or three loaf pans (in case you want to give two loaves as gifts).

Sprinkle (generously), Splenda brown sugar over top of batter.

Bake for 60-90 minutes at 375* or until the Holiday aroma knocks you out and your toothpick comes out clean at the center of the cake.

Devour a small piece warm or cold, with fat-free ice cream or low-fat whipped cream.

NOTE:

Using Dr. Oetker's fat-free, organic Cake Mix is just a convenient way to quickly tackle a baking project you might not otherwise do, especially if you're out of flour or other key ingredients.

I always keep a boxed mix on my shelf for emergencies.

Raisins would make a nice addition to this recipe, but I was out of them. That's why I used the Iranian sour cherries (which I had in my fridge because a friend had given them to me recently, to use with rice).

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