Date-Nut Fruitcake Recipe(Christmas Cake)

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 2 cups sugar
• 4 eggs
• 3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1 cup flaked coconut
• 1 cup golden raisins
• 1 cup chopped dates
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 2 tablespoons grated orange peel
• GLAZE:
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 3 tablespoons orange juice
• 1 tablespoon grated orange peel
•  
  TOTAL TIME: Prep: 20 min. Bake: 1 hour 25 min. + cooling

  MAKES: 16 servings

  Directions

  1. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs; mix well. Combine flour and baking soda; add to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk. Stir in the coconut, raisins, dates, pecans and orange peel.
  2. Spoon into a greased and floured 10-in. fluted tube pan. Bake at 300° for 85-95 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack. Place a piece of waxed paper under rack.
  3. In a small saucepan, bring the sugar and orange juice to a boil; boil for 1 minute. Stir in orange peel. Poke holes in cake with a long wooden skewer; gradually spoon glaze over fruitcake. Cool completely. Yield: 16 servings.