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New-Age Fruitcake

cakes, christmas

3/4 cup hot brandy
2 cups dried apricots; plumped whole
2 cups dried apricots; plumped quartered
2 cups yellow raisins
1/2 cup dark raisins
1/2 cup candied orange peel
2 teaspoons lemon zest; finely minced
2 teaspoons orange zest; finely minced
1/4 teaspoon lemon oil or extract
1/4 teaspoon orange oil or extract
2 tablespoons orange liqueur/Triple Sec/Cointreau
1/2 cup pineapple; crushed and drained
1 tart apple; grated
2 cups pecans
3/4 cup broken walnuts
1 cup unsalted butter
1 3/4 cups white sugar
4 eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla
3 cups all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon cloves
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ginger
1/8 teaspoon all spice
non-stick cooking spray
brandy, orange liqueur or a mixture
cheesecloth

At least one hour (or up to two days) before, soak fruit. Place apricots, raisins, pineapple, candied orange and lemon - extracts and zests - in a large bowl and toss with hot brandy. Just before making cake batter, stir grated apple and nuts into fruit-soaked mixture. Preheat oven to 325ºF. Line two 9 x 5-inch loaf pans with parchment paper, or use a 9- or 10-inch tube pan, also lined with parchment paper. Spray non-stick cooking spray over this. For cake, cream the butter with the sugar, then blend in eggs and vanilla. Fold in baking powder, salt, flour, spices, then fruit and nut mixture, to make a thick but well-blended batter. Spoon into prepared pans. Put on a baking sheet (this protects bottom of cakes from baking more than tops) and place in oven. Bake until cake tests done, about 2-3 hours. Cover top with foil if top is baking faster than interior and reduce heat to 300ºF. Let cake rest in pan for 15 minutes before removing to a cake rack to cool completely. Soak a large cheesecloth with brandy, orange liqueur or a mixture of both. Make small holes all over cake surface with a cake tester or long skewer. Cover entire cake with soaked cheesecloth. Wrap first in plastic, then a clean tea towel. Place in a cake tin or wrap tightly in foil. Refresh alcohol once a week or whenever you notice cheesecloth is dried out.

Contributor: Marcy Goldman - Weekend Post Food & Drink

Yield: 1 or 2 cakes

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