Rich Dark Fruitcake 1970

Total Time: 4 hrs 25 mins Preparation Time: 25 mins Cook Time: 4 hrs

Ingredients

• 1 lb salted butter
• 2 cups sugar
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 6 ounces grape jelly (welches)
• 1 ounce melted unsweetened chocolate
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 12 medium beaten egg yolks
• 1 medium orange, juice of
• 1 cup grape juice (welches, or 1/2 cup grape juice and 1/2 cup rum)
• 1/2 lb blanched slivered almond
• 1 lb pecan halves
• 3 lbs washed seedless raisins
• 1 lb washed sultana raisin
• 1 lb candied chopped pineapple
• 1 lb candied red cherries or 1 lb chopped cherries
• 1 lb green glazed cherries or 1 lb chopped cherries
• 1 lb candied citron peel, cut fine
• 12 medium egg whites, beaten stiff

Recipe

• 1 baking times and pan sizes-- 4 x 4 pan takes 1 1/2 hours 6 x 6 pan takes 3 hours 8 x 8 pan takes 4 1/2 hours preheat oven 275 degrees f.
• 2 line cake pan set plus one extra with three layers brown greased paper.
• 3 grease sides next to the batter.
• 4 place a small dish of water in bottom of oven for steam and moisture.
• 5 test by touching finger in centre of cake, if no dent press harder.
• 6 cake should be firm to touch or slightly springy.
• 7 method: prepare almonds, soak overnight in the orange juice.
• 8 prepare fruit, and soak overnight in the grape juice, sprinkle a little flour over the fruit.
• 9 next day-- cream butter at room temperature but not too soft.
• 10 add sugar gradually creaming until no grains are felt between fingertips.
• 11 beat in the beaten egg yolks.
• 12 blend well.
• 13 all steps must be followed as given to prevent butter from oozing out during baking.
• 14 stir in the grape jelly and the melted cooled chocolate.
• 15 blend in the flour, and baking powder.
• 16 add the fruits in small amounts at a time, mixing well.
• 17 add almonds, and pecans.
• 18 fold in lastly the stiff beaten egg whites-- pour into prepared pans and bake.