back         OLD WORLD FRUIT CAKE

A traditional European-style fruit cake

INGREDIENTS (1 large fruitcake)
CAKE

1 cup     all-purpose flour
½ tsp     salt
¼ tsp     baking soda
¼ tsp     baking powder
½ tsp     allspice
½ tsp     cinnamon
½ tsp     cloves
½ tsp     mace
½ tsp     nutmeg
½ cup     melted butter
2     eggs
¾ cup     black coffee (cold)
½ cup     brown sugar
1 cup     raisins
1 cup     mixed fruit
1 cup     dates
¼ cup     rum or brandy
GLAZE

4 Tbsp     butter
½ cup     rum or brandy
½ cup     sugar
PROCEDURE

(1)     Mix the melted butter, eggs, rum and coffee together.
(2)     Add brown sugar and mix well.
(3)     Add rest of dry ingredients and place in a buttered loaf pan.
(4)     Bake at 300º F for 2 hours or until done (it will separate from the sides of the pan).
(5)     Make glaze when almost completely baked: Melt (do not boil) butter. Add rum and sugar. Stir by hand.
(6)     Remove the cake from the oven and pour half of the glaze over it. Let it cool 25 minutes, then turn it over and pour the remaining glaze on the other side.
(7)     Notes: Don't use glass pans. This freezes well, if you make more than you can eat; just be sure to wrap it carefully so it doesn't get freezer burn. Warm frozen cake in the oven, not the microwave.
RATING

Difficulty: easy to moderate. Time: 15 minutes preparation, 2 hours baking, 30 minutes finishing. Precision: measure the ingredients.