Mamas Christmas Fruitcake Dee Dees Recipes

MAMA'S CHRISTMAS FRUITCAKE - DEE DEE'S

Steps:

• 1. Sift all dry ingredients together. Coat fruit and nuts with just enough of flour mixture (about 1 cup) to ensure that the fruit does not stick together; set aside.
• 2. Cream butter and sugar; add eggs 1 at a time, mixing well after each addition.
• 3. Add remaining dry mixture to egg, sugar and butter mixture; add liquor and vanilla; mix well.
• 4. Pour the creamed mixture over the fruit and nuts. Hand stir until mixed well.
• 5. Pour into 2 10-inch waxed paper lined tube pans, garnish top of cake with cherries, pineapple slices and pecan halves; place in cold oven, set oven at 275 degrees; bake 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 hours or until a long skewer inserted into the center of the cake comes out with just a few moist crumbs. MY MOHTERS RECIPE STATES BAKE IN SLOW OVEN FOR ABOUT 2 1/2 HOURS. IT TOOK MUCH LONGER IN MY OVEN.
• 6. Once cakes are done, cool and wrap in wine soaked cheesecloth, then in Reynolds Wrap and then wrap in towels.
• 7. NOTE: The secret to these wonderful cakes is in the aging process. Mama would age her cakes from 2 to 3 weeks. Once a week she would un-wrap the cakes and pour enough liquor over the cakes to keep them moist until Christmas.

MAMA'S WHITE FRUIT CAKE (FAMILY FAVORITE)

Steps:

• 1. PREHEAT OVEN TO 250 DEGREES F. Line a 12 cup bundt pan with greased parchment paper or brown paper bag, & then dust with flour, and set aside. NOTE: With improvements in technology over the years, you can now spray pan liberally with Bakers Joy, and eliminate the use of the Brown Paper Bag.
• 2. Cream butter & sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add egg yolks one at a time, beating well after each addition.
• 3. Gradually add the flour, a little at a time. Stir in the cherries and pecans. When the batter becomes stiff, add the lemon extract, mixing well until blended.
• 4. I prefer using both green & red cherries to add extra color to the cake.
• 5. In a separate bowl beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form, but are not dry. Fold into the cake batter until blended. Spread batter evenly into the prepared pan and bake in preheated 250 degree F. oven for 2 1/2 hours.
• 6. Cool the cake in pan on a rack for 1 hour. Invert cake onto rack. Remove liner, and cool completely, right- side up.
• 7. This recipe is dedicated to the memory of my mother Barbara S. Goldmon, my first culinary instructor, that had so much patience to teach me what she knew how to do best. She made this cake for as long as I can remember, and each time I make it, it reminds me of her, and her true patience. If you want to know patience try cooking this cake at 250 degrees for 2 and a half hours in a wood stove, where you need to constantly add wood to maintain the temperature. That's patience my friend. Here is to you mama with love.
• 8. I just made this cake for the first time WITHOUT THE BROWN PAPER BAG, OR PARCHMENT PAPER. I used the BAKERS JOY, AND THE CAKE TURNED OUT WONDERFULLY. jUST THOUGHT YOU WOULD LIKE TO KNOW. I have made it for years strickly as it was written, but now I know if I use BAKERS JOY, I do not need the parchment paper or brown bag. YIPPEE.
• 9. This is a sliced platter of this delicious cake.