Mom's Molasses Fruitcake

Ingredients

• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon allspice
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup butter, (softened)
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 large orange, (zested)
• 2 large eggs, (room temperature)
• 1/2 cup molasses
• 1/2 cup whole milk
• 1 cup chopped dried apricots
• 1/2 cup chopped dates
• 1/2 cup chopped dried cranberries
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 1/2 cup chopped candied cherries
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat your oven to 325 degrees F. Grease a 9 inch cake pan with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.

2. 2

   Measure the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, ginger, allspice, and salt into a bowl and whisk to combine. Set aside.

3. 3

   In a large mixing bowl, beat together the butter, brown sugar, and the zest from one large orange until smooth and fluffy - about 3 minutes.

4. 4

   Beat in the eggs.

5. 5

   Beat in the molasses.

6. 6

   Transfer half of the flour mixture to the mixing bowl and beat until just combined.

7. 7

   Add the milk and beat until combined.

8. 8

   Beat in the remaining flour mixture.

9. 9

   Add apricots, dates, cranberries, raisins, cherries, walnuts, and pecans to the batter. Use a spatula to fold those ingredients in until well dispersed.

10. 10

    Transfer the batter to the prepared cake pan. Smooth out the batter and tap the pan firmly on a cutting board or your countertop to settle the batter into the pan.

11. 11

    Bake for 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Depending on the moisture content in the dried fruit, the cake could take 70+ minutes to fully bake.

12. 12

    Once baked, remove from the oven and place onto a wire cooling rack. Allow the cake to rest for 10 minutes before turning it out onto a wire cooling rack to cool completely.