This is the fruitcake I made for my birth family for many years; my sister still loves it and swears it is better than any fruitcake she's ever tasted. I haven't tasted any that come close. It needs 2 - 4 weeks for the flavors to meld and age well. Prep time is only a guess.
1(16 ounce) canapricot halves, drained and chopped
1/4cupIrish whiskey, plus more
Irish whiskey, to age and soak
2 cupsseedless raisins
8 ouncesmixed candied fruit, chopped
1 1/2cupspecans, chopped
8 ouncescandied red cherries, halved
4 ouncescandied green cherries, halved
cheesecloth
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Instructions
Grease a 9x5x3-inch loaf pan.
Mix flour, baking powder, cinnamon, mace and cloves.
Cream butter with brown sugar until fluffy/light in a large bowl. Beat in eggs one at a time. Stir in apricots and whiskey. Stir in flour mixture until blended, then raisins, mixed fruit, pecans and cherries.
Spoon into prepared pan. Spread top evenly.
Bake at 300 degrees for 2 hours or till wooden pick comes out clean. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Loosen cooled cake around the edges with a knife; turn out onto rack.
Wrap in cheesecloth, pour some Irish Whiskey over it every few days, and let age for two to four weeks. Overwrap the cheesecloth with foil. Keep in the refrigerator.