Recipe: McCall's Brandied Fruit Loaves

MCCALL'S BRANDIED FRUIT LOAVES

3 tablespoons brandy or orange liqueur
3/4 cup dried Zante currants
4 Caimyrna figs, finely diced
1/2 cup dried tart cherries
2 cups unsifted all-purpose flour
1 1/3 cups sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups heavy (whipping) cream
3 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon grated orange zest

In a small bowl, combine brandy or liqueur, currants, figs, cherries and let stand 15 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease two 81/2x41/2x25/8 inch loaf pans. Line bottom with waxed paper. Grease paper, dust with flour.

In a large bowl combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. With electric mixer at low speed, beat well until blended. Add cream, eggs and vanilla. With mixer at low speed, beat just until dry ingredients are evenly moistened. With mixer at medium speed, beat just until batter is smooth, about 15 seconds. Stir in currant mixture and grated orange zest. Divide batter equally between prepared pans.

Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until cake tester inserted in centers comes out clean. Let cool in pans on wire rack 10 minutes. Run knife around edges of loaves; turn out onto racks. Turn up right and let cool completely.

Makes 2 loaves
Source: McCall's, December 1996