Christmas Cake

The batter for this cake contains plenty of raisins, dates, nuts & candied fruits, and is flavored with cardamom, cloves and orange.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• Pinch salt
• 1 cup each of chopped nuts and raisins
• 1/2 cup dates, chopped
• 1/2 cup chopped candied fruits
• Seeds from 6-8 cardamom pods, ground
• 6-8 whole cloves, optional
• 1/2 tsp orange zest
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 1/2 cups (unsalted) butter
• 7 eggs, separated
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup orange juice

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Sift flour with salt and baking powder. Add nuts, raisins, candied fruits and dates. Add ground cardamom, cloves and orange zest. Stir and set aside. In standing mixer, beat sugar and butter until sugar dissolves and it becomes very light and fluffy. Separate eggs, making sure no part of yolk remains in whites. Add egg yolks, one by one, to creamed sugar and butter, and then beat well. When all yolks are mixed with it, fold in flour mixture carefully. (Flour should be added slowly and mixed lightly by hand.) Make sure that no flour pockets remain. Stir in orange juice and vanilla. Beat egg whites separately until stiff peaks form; by hand, fold into batter. Pour into a greased 9x13" baking dish. Bake for 1 to 1 1/4 hours, or until toothpick comes out clean. Let it cool for 5-10 minutes then carefully remove from pan and turn over. Cut in pieces and store in cool place.

Number of Servings: 20-25

Notes from the Cook: My mom made this for all special occasions. It is a very tasty cake.