Black Fruit Cake

Total Time: 3 hrs Preparation Time: 1 hr Cook Time: 2 hrs

Ingredients

• 1 lb raisins, seedless
• 1 lb currants
• 1 lb dates, chopped
• 2 lbs candied fruit
• 1 lb walnuts, shelled and chopped
• 6 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon allspice
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon clove, ground
• 2 cups shortening
• 2 cups brown sugar
• 6 large eggs
• 1 cup molasses, dark
• 1 cup coffee, brewed strong and cooled
• 2 tablespoons vanilla extract

Recipe

• 1 mix all dry ingredients (flour, spices, and fruits and nuts) together in a very large bowl. mix all soft or liquid ingredients together thoroughly then add to lg. bowl, mixing well by hand. (this will give you an upper-body workout!).
• 2 prepare 4 bread pans (standard size) by lining them thoroughly with brown wrapping paper or a cut-up brown grocery bag. pour this thick and chunky batter into each of the loaf pans, filling 2/3 full.
• 3 bake for 2 hours at 250-300 degrees.
• 4 remove from oven and let cool. when thoroughly cool, remove from pans and carefully remove the brown paper which is adhered to the fruitcake. wrap in waxed paper and let set. serve during the holidays.