Helen's Whole Fruit Cake Recipe

Ingredients :

• 1 c. sugar
• 1 tsp. baking powder (rounded)
• 1 c. flour
• 1 lb. whole dates
• 1/2 lb. candied cherries, green & red
• 2 c. English walnut meats
• 1 c. Brazil nuts (whole)
• 4 egg yolks, beaten
• 1 c. sugar
• 1 tbsp. brandy flavoring
• 1/2 c. orange juice or apricot juice
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 4 egg whites, stiffly beaten

Method :

• Sift together sugar, baking powder and flour. 
• Add whole dates, cherries, walnut meats and Brazil nuts. 
• Add 4 egg yolks, 1 cup sugar, brandy flavoring, orange juice or apricot juice, and vanilla. 
• Mix all together real good. Fold in 4 stiffly beaten egg whites. 
• Pour into tube pan, greased and floured. 
• Bake in 250 degree oven 1 1/2 hours. Cool. 
• Soak cheesecloth in brandy. 
• Wrap cake in cheesecloth, then in foil. 
• Glaze and decorate with candied cherries. 
• Optional: 1 cup coconut, 1 cup candied fruit or 1/2 cup orange peel. Mother of LaVona & LaVelda Richmond