Light Fruit Cake Recipe

I love fruit cake!

For those who prefer a light fruit cake recipe, this one is time tested and tasty.

There are many Christmas fruit cake recipes around, but I love a fruit cake that is moist and full of luscious fruit. This one fits that description nicely.

The best fruit cakes may seem difficult to make but they are actually quite easy. It just takes a big mixing bowl and a bit of patience to mix it all together.

This cake is filled with goodies like coconut, pineapple and cherries. It's a real crowd pleaser, and not just for Christmas.

Light Fruit Cake

Ingredients:
2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
3 cups shredded coconut
1 1/2 cups candied cherries, cut in halves
1 1/2 cups candied pineapple, diced
1 1/2 cups white raisins
1 1/2 cups slivered, blanched almonds
2 cups sugar
1 cup butter
4 eggs
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 cup pineapple juice

Line 9" or 10" tube pan with two thicknesses of buttered brown paper.

Measure flour (without sifting) into a large bowl. Add salt and baking powder. Stir well to blend. Add coconut, fruits and nuts. Mix until fruit is separated and coated with flour.

Cream sugar, butter, eggs and almond extract together thoroughly.

Stir in fruit and flour mixture alternately with pineapple juice, starting and ending with the fruit and flour mixture. Spread batter evenly in the prepared pan.

Preheat oven to 275°F.

Bake for 3 to 3 1/3 hours. Keep a pan of hot water in bottom of the oven while baking. When baked, leave the cake in pan until it has cooled. Remove the paper liner and wrap the cake in foil. Store it in the refrigerator or a cool place.

Fruit Cake Glaze:
Combine 1 cup sugar, 1/2 cup water and 1/3 cup light corn syrup in a sauce pan. Stir over low heat until sugar is dissolved, then boil to firm ball stage (242°F on a candy thermometer).

Brush the hot glaze over the cooled cake. Decorate top with candied cherries and nuts and brush cake again with hot glaze. Let dry thoroughly before wrapping and storing.

Makes one large cake or can be baked for a shorter time in small cake tins.