LIGHT CHRISTMAS FRUITCAKE (THE BEST)

1 lb. dried fruit (finely chopped apples, dates, gold raisins, etc.)
6 oz. candied fruit (cherries and chopped candied pineapple)
4 T brandy or applejack, divided
1 cup all-purpose flour
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 t each cinnamon and nutmeg
1/4 t salt
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
2 eggs
2/3 cup applesauce
2/3 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
(1-1/2 hours in ring with both bottoms)

Grease baking pan.  Line bottom of pan with waxed paper.  Grease wax paper.  Set aside.

In a large bowl combine drie fruit, candied fruit and 2 T of the brandy.  Mix well.  Cover and let stand while preparing batter.

In a 1-1/2 quart mixer bowl beat flour, sugar, spice, and salt at low speed of an electric mixer 25 to 35 seconds to blend.  Add butter, eggs, and fruit sauce.  Beat at low speed one minute to blend.  Turn mixer to high speed.  Beat 3 minutes.  Scrape sies of bowl often.  Stir batter and nuts into fruit mixture.  Mix well.  Spoon into prepared pan filling about 2/3 full.  This recipe makes 5 cups batter.

Spread batter evenly in pan.  Bake at 300 F until a wooden pick or skewer inserted in center of cake comes out clean.

Cool in pan on rack 10 minutes.  To loosen, run a sharp knife around edge of pan.  Remove waxed paper.  Place on rack to cool  Drizzle remaining brandy over warm cake.  When cake is cool, wrap in brandy or liqueur soaked cheesecloth if desired.  Wrap in oil.  Store in cool place.  Pour more brndy or fruit liqueur over cheesecloth during aging.

I had high hopes for this one since I don't really like fruitcake, but it said it's the best!  I wasn't sure wht the direction was, 1-1/2 hours in ring with both bottoms?  Must be some kind of baking pan that they don't make anymore, not sure.  I also love how she gives the exact mixing times (25-35 seconds).  I followed this recipe exactly using brandy (not sure what applejack is).  Baking time was missing (unless that's the 1-1/2 hours referenced earlier), so I baked it for one hour.  I also poured the remaining brandy on the top. 

Sad to say that this just doesn't taste very good, and it's kind of hard too.  I really couldn't give it away.  I hope that somewhere in this file there's another fruitcake recipe that says it's the bestest!