Steamed Apple-Date Pudding - cooking recipe

Ingredients

8 oz. pkg. pitted dates
1/2 c. cranberry juice cocktail or apple cider
3/4 c. sugar
1/2 c. butter, softened
4 eggs
2 c. all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
1 large cooking apple, peeled
3/4 c. walnuts, chopped
Custard Sauce
red and green candied cherries

Preparation

Peel and coarsely chop cooking apple.
Heavily grease deep 2 1/2-quart heat safe bowl.
Cut foil 1 inch larger than top of bowl to use as cover.
Grease 1 side of foil well; set aside.
In blender at medium speed, blend dates and cranberry juice cocktail until smooth; set aside.
In large bowl, with mixer at low speed, beat sugar and butter just until blended.
Increase speed to high and beat until light and fluffy.
Add eggs and next 5 ingredients, and date mixture; beat at low speed until well blended.
Increase speed to medium and beat 1 minute, scraping bowl.
With rubber spatula gently fold in chopped apple and walnuts.
Spoon mixture into prepared bowl and cover with foil, greased side down, tie tightly with string.