Fruitcake - cooking recipe

Ingredients

2 c. sugar
1 c. butter or margarine
5 eggs
1/4 c. molasses
2 c. flour, divided
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. ground cloves
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/4 c. brandy (optional)
1 lb. raisins
24 oz. dried fruit mix
1 1/2 c. chopped walnuts
8 oz. chopped dates

Preparation

Cream sugar with butter until creamy.
Add eggs and beat well. Beat in molasses.
Combine 1 cup flour, baking soda and spices and add to the creamed mixture alternately with the brandy beginning and ending with the dry ingredients.
Combine raisins, walnuts, fruit mix and dates; toss with 1 cup flour to coat well and then stir into batter.
Place dough into two 9 x 5-inch loaf pans lined with wax paper.
Bake at 225\u00b0 for 3 to 3 1/2 hours. Place shallow pan of boiling water on the bottom of oven during baking but remove it the last 30 minutes of baking.
Cool in pans on a rack.
Remove cake and peel off wax paper.
Wrap in foil. Store in cool place.
Will keep months in the refrigerator.
Makes 2 cakes.