Christmas Fruit Cake. Review on General Tips on Cooking

I like to have plenty of Fruit Cake on hand for the holidays. I make about 10 loafs, and then I wrapped them in wrap. When I served to my guest, it's fresh and moist. That's only, if my husband don't get into the cakes first!

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1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon baking power

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

3/4 cup diced mixed candied fruits and peels, or snipped mixed dried

Fruit

1/2 cup raisins or snipped pitted dates

1/2 cup candied red and green cherries, quartered

1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

2 eggs

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup orange juice or apple juice

1/3 cup butter or margarine, melted

2 tablespoons light molasses Brandy or fruit juice

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1.Grease an 8x4x2-inch loaf pan. Line bottom and sides of pan with brown paper to prevent over browning: grease paper. Set pan aside. In a mixing bowl stir together flour, cinnamon, baking power, baking soda, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves. Add fruits and peels, raisins, cherries, and nuts; mix ingredients well.

1. In another mixing bowl beat eggs; stir in brown sugar, juice, butter or margarine, and molasses till combined. Stir into fruit mixture. Pour batter into prepared pan.

   
   




2. Bake in a 300 degree oven for 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 hours or till a wooden toothpick comes out clean. Cover pan loosely with foil after 1 hour of baking to prevent over browning. Place cake in pan on a wire rack and cool thoroughly.

   
   




3. Remove cake from pan. Wrap cake in brandy -or- fruit juice- moistened cheesecloth. Overwrap with foil. Store in the refrigerator for 2 to 8 weeks to mellow flavor. Remoisten cheesecloth about once a week or as needed. Makes 6 servings. Prep: 30 Minutes.

   
   

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Light Fruit Cake

Prepair as above; except omit nutmeg, allspice, and cloves and substitute light-colored syrup for the molasses. Add 1 teaspoon finely shredded lemon peel and 1 tablespoon lemon juice with the corn syrup.

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I love the smell of cinnamon, allspice, candied fruit, raisins, red and green cherries, brown sugar, molasses, brandy or fruit juice when these fragrances fill my home. There is not a better tasting food when piping hot (outside of homemade bread). I am getting hungry for some, just by writing about it.

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I will not buy Fruit Cake from a store or a bakery. For the following reasons: (1) Very, Very dry. (2) Small amount. (3) The prices that I have seen are outrageous.

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Have a Happy Holiday Season.