Jill's Fruitcake

Categories: Cakes | Holiday | Fruit | Desserts

Serves: 6 Loaves

Ingredients:

4 c All-purpose flour, divided
1 1/2 c Pecan halves, divided
1 c Chopped almonds
1 c Chopped pecans
1 c Chopped dates
1 lb Fruitcake mix
1/2 lb Red and green candied
- cherries
1 ts Baking powder
1/2 ts Salt
1 tb Ground cinnamon
1 tb Ground cloves
1 tb Ground allspice
1 tb Freshly grated nutmeg
3/4 c Butter
2 c Sugar
5 lg Eggs
1 ts Vanilla extract
Brandy

Instructions:
LINE 6 (5x3x2 inch) loafpans with parchment paper; set aside.

COMBINE 1/2 cup flour, 1 cup pecan halves, almonds, and next 4 ingredients,
tossing gently to coat. Set aside.

BEAT butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy; gradually
add sugar, beating well. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until blended
after each addition.

ADD vanilla, beating well. Gradually add flour mixture, mixing well.

STIR fruit mixture into batter; stir in remaining 1/2 cup pecan halves.
Spoon batter evenly into prepared pans; smooth tops of cakes with back of a
wet spoon.

BAKE at 325 F for 20 minutes; decrease temperature to 300 F, and bake 40
minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched. Cool in pans on
wire racks 20 minutes; remove from pans, and cool completely on wire racks.

PEEL paper from cakes; wrap cakes in brandy-soaked cheesecloth. Store in
airtight containers in a cool place.

POUR a small amount of brandy over cakes weekly for 4 weeks; then monthly.

From Gemini's MASSIVE MealMaster collection at www.synapse.com/~gemini

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