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| Image by specialfoodrecipe |
Fruitcakes keep for several months, even years, when properly wrapped and stored in the refrigerator or freezer. To keep them moist, brush with brandy once in a while (cherry brandy works particularly well).
Ingredients for two 8" x 3 1/2" x 3" loaf pans:
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1 1/4 cups sugar
- 2 whole eggs
- 5 egg yolks
- 3 tablespoons molasses
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 4 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon each dry nutmeg, cinnamon, mace, allspice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/3 cup rum
- 1/3 cup brandy
- 1 1/4 cups raisins
- 1 1/4 cups glazed fruits
- 1 1/4 cups assorted nuts (walnuts, cashews, and almonds), halved
- Candied cherries, red and green
- Whole walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts, cashews
- Preheat oven to 275 degrees Fahrenheit. In a large mixing bowl, cream butter at medium speed.
- Gradually add sugar while continuing to cream until light and fluffy.
- Add whole eggs and yolks one at a time, beating well after each addition.
- Pour in molasses.
- In a separate container, combine the dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, nutmeg, cinnamon, mace and allspice). Alternately add flour mixture and the vanilla, rum, and brandy into the creamed butter.
- Add raisins, glazed fruits, and assorted nuts.
- Mix on low speed until all ingredients are combined, around 3 minutes.
- Dredge these first in a little flour to keep them from sinking in the batter during baking.
- Grease two 8" x 3 1/2" x 3" loaf pans. Line bottoms and all sides of loaf pans with waxed paper or brown paper. Grease again and line with another layer of paper.
- Spoon mixture into the loaf pans. Decorate top with candied cherries and whole nuts.
- Place loaf pans in a bigger pan. Pour water around the loaf pans to make a water bath (bain-marie). Bake in preheated oven for about 1 hour and 30 minutes.
- Cool fruitcakes completely in pans. Remove from the pans and peel off waxed paper. Brush fruitcakes with brandy for added moisture and flavor. Wrap each loaf in aluminum foil. Store in refrigerator or freezer until ready to serve or for gift giving.
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