Fruitcake Unusual And Worth It Recipes

THE BEST FRUITCAKE

Steps:

• Combine the raisins, currants, apricots, figs, prunes, dates, walnuts, pecans, orange zest, lemon zest, candied ginger, pumpkin pie spice and cloves in a large bowl and toss to combine. Add 1 cup of the brandy, orange liqueur and molasses and stir to coat. Cover and set aside to macerate overnight. (Alternatively, cover the bowl and microwave 2 minutes, or until very hot. Leave covered and let sit until almost all the liquid has been absorbed into the fruit and nuts, about 2 hours.)
• Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F. Spray two 9-by-5-inch loaf pans with nonstick cooking spray and line each with 2 pieces of parchment, one lengthwise and one crosswise, leaving a 2-inch overhang on each side. Spray the parchment with cooking spray.
• Sprinkle 1/2 cup flour over the soaked fruit mixture and toss to coat. Whisk together the remaining 1 1/2 cups flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a large bowl.
• Cream the butter and brown sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment on medium-high until light and fluffy, about 1 minute. Add the eggs, one at a time, making sure each is fully incorporated before adding the next and scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Beat in the vanilla. Reduce the speed to medium-low and beat in the flour mixture until the batter is blended and smooth. Pour the batter over the fruit mixture and fold with a rubber spatula until all the fruit is coated in batter.
• Divide the mixture evenly between the two prepared pans, filling each about 3/4 full. Bake until the cakes begin to pull away from the sides of the pans, the tops spring back slightly when pressed and a cake tester comes out clean, about 1 1/2 hours. Transfer to a wire rack and brush with the remaining 2 tablespoons brandy. Let the cakes cool in the pans for about 15 minutes. Carefully remove each cake from its pan using the parchment overhang and place on the rack to cool completely.
• To store, wrap each loaf tightly in plastic and then foil. The wrapped fruitcakes can be stored in a cool, dry place for up to 3 months.

$$$,$$$,$$$ FRUITCAKE (UNUSUAL AND WORTH IT)

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Baking time 1 hr.+ 30 mins. Grease a 10-inch tube pan, and line bottom of pan with foil, grease foil.
• 2. Note:I reserved the prunes, figs, apricots and some of the pecans, to decorate the baked fruitcake and in Step #7. In a separate bowl combine dates, cherries, pineapple, dried lemon, candied lemon and some of the chopped pecans. These can be stirred into the batter after mixing it as directed in Step #4
• 3. In another large bowl, with mixer at low speed, beat sugar and shortening until just blended. Increase speed to high, beat until light and fluffy.
• 4. Add flour,b.powder,salt,vanilla and eggs to the sugar/shortening mixture. Beat at low speed until mixture is just blended. Stir in dried fruit. Note: Add the mixture of dates,cherries, pineapple,dried lemon,candied lemon and pecans at this point.
• 5. Spoon into pan and bake, until toothpick inserted in mid-cake comes out clean, about one and a half hours.
• 6. Cool cake completely in pan on a wire rack. Remove from pan and carefully peel of the foil. At this point I added glaze and decorated the cake. Wrap fruitcake in plastic wrap or foil tightly, and refrigerate overnight so cake will be firm and easy to slice.
• 7. Optional-Glaze: In a small pan heat apricot preserves until just melted, stirring occasionally. Brush cake with half of preserves. Garnish with dried fruit, cherries and pecans.
• 8. This cake may be made a month in advance or a day ahead.