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Ingredients
- 1 cup golden raisins
- 1/4 cup candied ginger, chopped
- 1 cup currants
- 1 cup gold rum
- 1/2 cup sun dried cranberries
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup sun dried blueberries
- 5 ounces unsalted butter (1 1/4 sticks)
- 1/2 cup sun dried cherries
- 1 cup unfiltered apple juice
- 1/2 cup dried apricots, chopped
- 4 whole cloves, ground
- Zest of one lemon, chopped coarsely
- 6 allspice berries, ground
- Zest of one orange, chopped coarsely
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 to 1/2 cup toasted pecans, broken
- Brandy for basting and/or spritzing
Details
Preparation
Step 1
Combine dried fruits, candied ginger and both zests.
Add rum and macerate overnight, or microwave for 5 minutes to re-hydrate fruit.
Place fruit and liquid in a non-reactive pot with the sugar, butter, apple juice and spices.
Bring mixture to a boil stirring often, then reduce heat and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes.
Remove from heat and cool for at least 15 minutes. (Batter can be completed up to this point, then covered and refrigerated for up to 2 days. Bring to room temperature before completing cake.)
Heat oven to 325 degrees.
Combine dry ingredients and sift into fruit mixture. Quickly bring batter together with a large wooden spoon, then stir in eggs one at a time until completely integrated, then fold in nuts.
Spoon into a 10-inch non-stick loaf pan and bake for 1 hour.
Check for doneness by inserting toothpick into the middle of the cake. If it comes out clean, it's done. If not, bake another 10 minutes, and check again.
Remove cake from oven and place on cooling rack or trivet.
Baste or spritz top with brandy and allow to cool completely before turning out from pan.
When cake is completely cooled, seal in a tight sealing, food safe container.
Every 2 to 3 days, feel the cake and if dry, spritz with brandy.
The cake's flavor will enhance considerably over the next two weeks.
If you decide to give the cake as a gift, be sure to tell the recipient that they are very lucky indeed.
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