Beat the softened butter, softened cream cheese, and sugar together in a large bowl until they're light and fluffy.
Add the beaten eggs and vanilla and mix well.
Sprinkle in the baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamom and mix until well combined.
Now add applesauce and mix well.
Then add flour, a cup at a time. Mix after each addition.
Now add pecans and stir by hand, being sure to scrape down the sides and mix everything up from the bottom of the bowl.
Spray the inside of your pans. I used a 1 quart loaf pan and 2 mini loaf pans.
Pour batter into loaf pans, smoothing down the top.
Bake your bread in the center of the oven. If using a large loaf pan bake for 60-70 minutes. If using small/mini pans bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
*If the top of your bread browns too fast, tent a piece of foil over the top of the pan and finish baking.
Remove from oven and let cool slightly (until it's warm but not hot) then loosen the bread by running a knife around the inside of the pan and finish cooling on a wire rack.
Slice and serve warm or toasted with butter. Also great for sandwiches!
*You can also make these as muffins. Bake at 375 degrees for 25 minutes.
Notes
Recipe from Double Fudge Brownie Murder by Joanne Fluke.