Dried-fruit cake - country living
24 servings
Ingredients
| Quantity | Ingredient | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | cups | Granulated sugar |
| 2 | cups | Water |
| 1 | cup | Brandy |
| 2 | cups | Chopped pitted dates |
| 2 | cups | Golden raisins |
| 2 | cups | Dried cherries (see Note) |
| 1½ | cup | Chopped dried apricots |
| 1 | cup | Dried cranberries (see Note) |
| ½ | cup | (1 stick) butter |
| 2 | cups | Unsifted all-purpose flour |
| 2 | cups | Sliced natural almonds |
| 1 | teaspoon | Ground cinnamon |
| ½ | teaspoon | Ground nutmeg |
| ½ | teaspoon | Salt |
| ½ | teaspoon | Baking soda |
| 2 | Large eggs, lightly beaten | |
| 1 | tablespoon | Almond extract |
| Confectioners' sugar | ||
Directions
1. Several hours or day before baking, prepare fruit mixture: In 4-quart saucepan, combine granulated sugar, water, brandy, dates, raisins, cherries, apricots, cranberries, and butter; heat to boiling over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to low and cook, stirring occasionally, 10 minutes. Remove from heat and cool completely.
(Cover and refrigerate if not using within several hours.) 2. When fruit mixture is completely cooled, heat oven to 300'F.
Grease and flour 10-inch Turk's Head mold or tube pan. In large bowl, combine flour, almonds, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and baking soda. With large spoon, stir eggs, almond extract, and cooled fruit mixture into flour mixture until well combined.
3. Spoon batter into prepared pan; bake 1 hour and 15 minutes or until cake tester inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on wire rack 20 minutes; unmold onto serving plate and cool completely.
Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar before serving.
Note: Dried cherries and dried cranberries are available by mail order from American Spoon Foods, 1668 Clafion Ave., P.O. Box 566, Petosky, Mich. 49770, or by calling (800) 222-5886.
Country Living/November/91 Scanned & fixed by DP and GG Submitted By MICHAEL ORCHEKOWSKI On 11-21-94