Dried Fruit Fruitcake

Total Time: 2 hrs 40 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 2 hrs 20 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 24
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 2 cups water
• 1 cup brandy (or use an equal amount of apple juice or cider)
• 2 cups dates, pitted & quartered
• 2 cups golden raisins
• 2 cups dried cherries
• 1 1/2 cups dried apricots, quartered
• 1 cup dried cranberries
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups slivered almonds
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 large eggs, room temperature, lightly beaten
• 1 tablespoon almond extract

Recipe

• 1 in a large saucepan, combine first 9 ingredients. bring to a boil over medium high heat, then reduce to low & cook 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. remove from heat & cool to room temperature.
• 2 preheat oven to 275 degrees f, then grease & flour a 12-cup bundt pan.
• 3 in a large bowl, combine the next 6 ingredients which are dry, then stir in the lightly beaten eggs, the almond extract, and the cooled fruit mixture, & combine well.
• 4 spoon batter into the prepared bundt pan & bake for at least 2 hours & 20 minutes. toothpick in the center should come out clean.
• 5 cool in the pan on a wire rack for 20 minutes, then unmold onto a serving plate & cool completely.