Light Fruitcake Recipe

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.

Grease, then line the bottom and sides of a 9- X 5- X 3-inch loaf pan with foil; grease foil lightly. Sift flour with baking powder , salt , and spices and set aside. Cream butter until light, gradually add sugar, continuing to cream until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in vanilla and almond extract.

Add dry ingredients, about 1/3 cup at a time, beating just to blend. Toss raisins with candied fruits, cherries , and nuts , and stir into batter. Spoon into pan and decorate with almond and cherry halves. Bake 1-1/2 to 1-3/4 hours until cake shrinks slightly from sides of pan, is lightly browned, and a metal skewer inserted in center comes out clean.

Cool cake upright in pan on a wire rack 1/2 hour. Invert on rack, peel off foil, turning right-side-up, and cool thoroughly. Wrap in brandy-, rum - or fruit-juice-soaked cheesecloth, then in foil, and store airtight 2 to 3 weeks before serving.

Yield: 20 servings Source: The New Doubleday Cookbook by Jean Anderson, Elaine Hanna (Doubleday)

Reprinted with permission.