OLD TIME MOLASSES FRUITCAKE

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 3 cups dark raisins
• 3 cups golden raisins
• 1 cup candied cherries or deluxe mixed fruit
• 1 cup candied mixed peel
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp allspice
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 1 cup shortening
• 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 6 large eggs
• 1/2 cup molasses
• 1 tsp vanilla

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 300°F. Grease two 9x5 inch loaf pans and line with a double thickness of greased parchment paper.
2. Combine 1/4 cup flour with raisins, cherries and peel.
3. Combine 1 1/4 cups with soda, salt and spices.
4. Cream shortening and brown sugar until fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add molasses and vanilla; mix well.
5. Blend dry ingredients into wet ingredients; fold in fruit mixture. Spoon batter into prepared pans.
6. Bake until a cake tester inserted into the centre comes out clean, about 2 hours.
7. Cool in pans on a rack. Wrap cakes when completely cooled. Allow cakes to season for 4 - 6 weeks.