Grandma Leach's Fruitcake

Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 60 min
Servings: 48
Yield: 48 servings

Description

This super moist fruitcake packed with juicy raisins, dates, candied mixed fruit, nuts, and warm spices is easy to make for a classic Christmas treat.

Ingredients

4 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups white sugar
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons ground cloves
3 cups unsweetened applesauce
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1 cup raisins
1 cup chopped pitted dates
1 pound candied mixed fruit
2 cups chopped walnuts
1/2 cup walnut halves
1 cup halved candied cherries

Directions

1 Gather all ingredients. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Grease a 9-inch tube pan and one 9x5 inch loaf pan.
2 Sift flour, sugar, cocoa, cornstarch, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and cloves into a large bowl.
3 Stir in applesauce and oil, then mix in raisins, dates, mixed fruit, and 2 cups of walnuts.
4 Pour into the prepared pans, about 3/4 full.
5 Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the crown of the cake comes out clean, about 1 hour.
6 Cool cake and decorate with walnut halves and candied cherry halves.