Mike'S Fabulous Fruitcake - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 lb dried currant
1 lb dried apricot
1/2 lb dried dates
1/2 lb dried fig
1/4 lb candied orange peel
1/4 lb candied lemon peel
1/4 lb crystallized ginger
1/2 lb walnuts
3 cups Southern Comfort
1 lb flour
1 lb brown sugar
1 lb butter
2 tablespoons lyle golden syrup
8 eggs
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
3 -4 cups Southern Comfort, for soaking,as needed (optional)

Preparation

Preheat oven to 275 degrees F.
Coarsely chop fruit, orange and lemon peel, ginger, and walnuts, then soak overnight in Southern Comfort.
In a very large bowl (a very big KitchenAid mixer works well) beat together the butter, brown sugar, and golden syrup, then beat in the eggs one at a time.
Add in flour, spices, and fruit-nut mixture.
Put in a greased 10-inch square pan or put in greased mini loaf pans; do not fill pans more than 2/3 full.
If using one pan, set it in a water bath to bake, but a water bath is not necessary for mini-loaves; bake at 275 degrees F for 3-4 hours (1-2 hours for mini loaves).
Cakes are done when a toothpick inserted comes out clean and dry.
Optional: soak finished fruitcake (s), wrapped in cheesecloth, in additional Southern Comfort.
Optional (preferred): let loaves\"cure\" for about 30 days in an airtight container in a cool place.
Makes about 25-30 mini loaves or 3 to 4 full sized loaves.