Ingredients

For the simple syrup:
2 cups sugar
2 cups water
About 3 tablespoons lemon zest, cut into strips, not minced (from 2 lemons)
2 lemons, juiced (about 1/4 cup)

For the cake:
1 pound of a combination of dried fruits, such as blueberries, cranberries, cherries,
raisins and chopped apricots
1 pound unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 1/4 cups sugar

4 ounces almond paste
8 large eggs
1 cup orange-flavored liqueur (recommended: Grand Marnier)
4 cups bleached all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1 cup slivered blanched almonds
1 cup pecan pieces
1 cup walnut pieces
1/2 cup bourbon

Whiskey Sauce, recipe follows

Directions

Make a simple syrup by
combining the sugar and water in a medium-size heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-high
heat. Add the lemon zest and juice and bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar.

Boil for 2 minutes and remove from the heat. Remove the strips of lemon zest and discard
the zest. Set syrup aside.

Combine the dried fruits together in a large mixing bowl. Pour the simple syrup over them,
toss to coat, and let steep for 5 minutes. Strain and reserve the syrup.

Cream the butter, sugar, and almond paste together in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted
with a paddle attachment at low speed, occasionally scraping down the sides of the bowl.
Beat until the mixture is fluffy and smooth, about 2 minutes. Add the eggs, 1 at a time,
mixing in between each addition on low speed and scraping down the sides of the bowl as
necessary. Add 1/2 cup of the orange liqueur and mix to incorporate.

Combine the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a medium-size mixing bowl
and blend well. Add this mixture 1/2 cup at a time to the butter mixture with the mixer on
low speed, each time mixing until smooth, about 2 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the
bowl as necessary. The batter will be thick.

Add the warm fruit and all the nuts a little at a time, mixing well. Scrape down the sides
of the bowl and the paddle.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Lightly grease 12 mini disposable loaf pans (about 3 1/2 inches by 5 3/4 inches). Divide
the batter evenly between the pans, about 1 cup each. Bake until golden and the tops
spring back when touched, 35 to 40 minutes (rearranging them after 25 minutes if necessary
to brown evenly).

Cool for 10 minutes in the pans. Remove cakes from the pans and cool completely on wire
racks.

Wrap each cake in a layer of cheesecloth. Store in plastic storage bags until they are
slightly stale, 3 to 4 days.

Combine the reserved simple syrup with the remaining 1/2 cup Grand Marnier and the
bourbon. Without removing the cheesecloth, make tiny holes with a toothpick randomly on
the top of each cake. Pour 2 tablespoons of the syrup over the top of each cake once every
2 to 3 days until all of the syrup is used. Let the cakes age for up to 3 weeks before
eating. Wrap cakes well in a decorative manner if giving as gifts.

Serve the cakes with the Whiskey Sauce.

Ingredients

Whiskey
Sauce:

Directions

3 cups heavy cream
1/2 cup bourbon
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch

Combine 2 1/4 cups of the cream with the bourbon and sugar in a medium-size nonstick
saucepan over medium heat. Stir to dissolve the sugar.

In a small bowl, dissolve the cornstarch in the remaining 1/4 cup cream. Add this to the
cream-and-bourbon mixture and simmer, stirring often, until the mixture thickens, 4 to 5
minutes. Remove from the heat and serve warm with the fruitcake.

The sauce may be stored, after it has cooled, in an airtight container for 24 hours. When
ready to serve, warm over low heat.

Yield: about 3 cups