Dark Fruitcake

Dark Fruitcake – There’s a lot of prep work on this recipe, but if you like fruitcake, you are going to love this dark fruitcake! – Citron ((candied, or candied fruit and peels)), Cherries ((candied)), Raisins ((dark)), Raisins ((golden)), Calmyra Figs ((cut into pieces)), Dates ((pitted, cut into small pieces)), Pecan Halves ((or walnut halves if necessary)), Brandy, Flour ((white)), Baking Powder, Salt, Cinnamon ((ground)), Nutmeg ((ground)), Allspice ((ground)), Cloves ((ground)), Eggs, Brown Sugar ((packed)), Orange Juice, Butter ((melted & cooled)), Molasses ((light & treacle)), Mix fruits together in a bowl.; Pour brandy over fruits.; Turn fruit mixture over every 20 minutes.; Soaking time is a matter of taste, but two hours is typical.; Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.; Prepare tube pan: grease sides and bottom.; Line bottom and sides with greased brown paper.; In a very large bowl, mix flour, spices, baking powder and salt.
; Stir until spices are evenly blended throughout.; In a third bowl beat Eggs until fluffy.; Add brown sugar, orange juice, molasses and butter.; Mix, making sure that all the sugar dissolves.; Pour off any liquid from fruit mixture and add the fruit and the nuts to the dry ingredients.

; Mix until all fruit pieces are coated.; Then pour in the liquids and mix gently until you have an evenly-mixed batter.; Pour batter into pan and bake at 300 degrees F. for 1 hour.; Cover pan with foil and bake for 1 hour more or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.; Cool for 30 minutes before removing from pan. Peel off paper very carefully.; Put cake in cake tin lined with foil.

; For the next 3 to 4 weeks, sprinkle a little brandy over cake twice a week.; Keep cake covered and store the tin in the refrigerator.; – If you prefer to omit the brandy, cover top of cake with very thin slices of apple instead.