Fruitcake 

Even though it is such a maligned food, here's my try!

~Options for storing

-Once cooled carefully remove. Soak cheesecloth (or I think a tea towel) in alcohol (probably whatever I have, recipe says triple sec or medium sherry).

-If I don't soak in the extra alcohol, check for it molding or dryness after a week.
~Soak 40 oz dried fruits ideally 24 hours
4 oz dried pineapple, diced
8 oz currants
6 oz apricots, chopped
8 oz dried cherries
6 oz figs, chopped small
4 oz prunes, chopped
4 oz dates, chopped
6 oz alcohol, I've used gin and whiskey

In bowl whisk together:
6 oz all-purpose flour
1/2 t baking powder
1 t cinnamon
1 t ground ginger
1/4 t nutmeg
1 t salt

In bosch with cake paddles cream:
4 oz softened unsalted butter
5 oz brown sugar
until light and fluffy.

Beat in one at a time just until incorporated:
5 eggs, at room temperature

Gently without over mixing stir in the flour mixture until just absorbed.

By hand stir in:
1 T lemon zest
1 T orange zest
4 oz freshly squeezed orange juice (from the orange you zested)
1 granny smith apple coarsely grated
6 oz nuts (slivered almonds or chopped pecans or walnuts)
1 oz crystallized ginger, diced small

Gently stir in by hand the soaked fruit mixture along with any unabsorbed liquid. It will be a very thick heavy fruit mixture.

Divide the batter into two greased and parchment papered loaf pans. Bake on center rack several inches apart from one another. Rotate pans halfway through. Bake on convection bake 300* 75 to 90 minutes until batter is set and tops are golden brown. Temp at the edges will be 200* but middle will be 175*-180*.

Cool completely in pan on a wire rack.

Wrap each cake tightly. Wrap in parchment tightly and put into plastic bag. Store in refrigerator 6-8 weeks, a week at minimum). OR store on counter for a week for very best texture.

~This cake was fabulous just the day after baking! Very moist, nice crunch from the dried figs. Sliced well, held together, sweet but not too much. If it would ever last long enough to add the extra alcohol, I can't even think it would have better flavor.

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