Festive Holiday Fruit Cake

Festive Holiday Fruit Cake

Makes 1 large or 2 small fruitcakes

Ingredients

1 ½ cups (12 oz) Paradise Old English Mix 1 ½ cups (12 oz) Pineapple Wedges (assorted colors) 1 8 oz Red Cherries 1 8 oz Green Cherries 1 cup dried apples, coarsely chopped 1 cup pitted dates, coarsely chopped 2 cups currants or dark raisins 1 cup slivered almonds

1 cup walnut halves 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour ¾ cup granulated sugar ¾ cup packed light brown sugar ½ cup butter or margarine, softened 5 eggs 2 tablespoons dark molasses 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon ½ teaspoon baking soda

Method

1.                  Pour ½ cup bourbon or rum over combined fruits and nuts in large bowl, let stand 2 to 3 hours, stirring occasionally.

2.                  Measure remaining ingredients into large mixing bowl.

3.                  Beat at low speed until blended, beat at high speed 3 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally.

4.                  Stir in fruit mixture.

5.                  Spread mixture evenly in greased 12 cup fluted or angel cake pan, or 2 greased 6 cup fluted cake pans.

6.                  Press mixture firmly into pan.  Bake in preheated 250° oven until toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean 3 to 3 ½ hours completely.

7.                  Garnish with whole cherries, pineapple and nuts.