2 c Broken walnuts (8 ounces;
-230 g)
1 c Hazelnuts or filberts (5
-ounces; 140 g), toasted,
-skinned, halved or coarsely
-chopped
1 c Brazil nuts (6 ounces; 170
-g), coarsely chopped, or
-halved pecans
1 c Seedless raisins (6 ounces;
-170 g)
1 1/2 c Firmly packed golden raisins
-(7 ounces; 210 g)
2 c Firmly packed dried apricot
-halves (12 ounces; 340 g),
-cut into quarters
3/4 c Dark rum or Calvados, plus
-1/2 cup unsweetened apple
-cider, or use all spirits
1 1/2 c Unsifted whole-wheat pastry
-flour (6 3/4 ounces; 185
-g); available in health
-food stores
2 c Unsifted all-purpose flour
-(10 ounces; 280 g)
1 1/2 ts Baking powder
1/4 ts Baking soda
1/2 ts Salt
1 ts Each of ground cinnamon and
-nutmeg
1 1/2 c Lightly slated butter (3
-sticks; 340 g), at room
-temperature, or use 1/2 cup
-margarine plus 1 cup butter
1 1/2 c Firmly packed light brown
-sugar (10 1/2 ounces; 300
-g)
5 lg Eggs
2 ts Vanilla extract
1 c Unpeeled grated apple,
-cooking type such as Granny
-Smith (6 ounces; 170 g)
1 c Applesauce
GARNISH
Halved walnuts, almonds or
-pecans
Cut-up dried apricots
APRICOT GLAZE
1 c Apricot preserves, best
-quality
-FIRM APRICOT GLAZE-
1/2 c Apricot preserves, best
-quality
1 1/2 ts Unflavored gelatin
2 tb Kirsch, or other
-fruit-flavored liqueur or
-fruit juice
-BASIC ICING GLAZE-
1 1/3 c Sifted confectioners’ sugar
-(4 3/4 ounces; 135 g)
1 tb Cream, or more as needed to
-thin the glaze (up to 2)
1 tb Unsalted butter, melted
1/2 ts Lemon or orange extract; or
-1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1. A day or two before baking the cake, combine all the dried fruits and
nuts in a large bowl and toss well with the rum or Calvados and cider.
Cover with plastic wrap and set aside in a cool place for at least 24
hours. Toss the mixture occasionally.
2. On the baking day, prepare pans. Use one tube pan 10 x 4 inches or one 9
1/4-inch tube pan (9 cup capacity) plus 2 baby loaf pans, each 6 x 3 1/2 x
2 inches, or the equivalent in capacity (cake consists of about 12 cups
batter.) Lightly grease pan(s), cut paper liners to cover both bottom and
sides, press paper in place, then grease paper. Position rack in center of
oven for 1 large cake, or divide oven in thirds for several cakes. Preheat
oven to 325 F (165 C).
3. Sift both flours, the baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices
together onto wax paper. Set aside.
To make the cake batter, use a spoon and a mixing bowl or the electric
mixer to cream together the butter and sugar until well blended. Add eggs,
one at a time, beating after each addition. Stir in vanilla. Add the flour
mixture in 3 or 4 additions, beating very slowly to blend after each
addition. The batter will be quite stiff. Stir in the grated apple and
applesauce. Stir the macerated fruit-nut-rum mixture, then add it to the
batter along with all the liquid. Stir the batter with a sturdy wooden
spoon until well blended; really the best way to blend is with your bare
hands.
4. Spoon the batter into the prepared pan(s), filling them about 2/3
continued in part 2
Yields
1 Servings