Yuletide Dark Fruit Cake

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup diced citron
• 3/4 cup diced candied orange peel
• 3/4 cup diced candied lemon peel
• 4 cups halved candied cherries
• 6 cups slivered candied pineapple
• 1 2/3 cups chopped dates
• 2 cups dark seedless raisins
• 1 (16 ounce) can pitted sour cherries, drained
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons brandy
• 4 cups chopped pecans
• 1 cup softened butter
• 2 cups firmly packed brown sugar, sieved
• 7 eggs
• 5 cups sifted all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon allspice
• 1 teaspoon cloves
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 (10 ounce) jar grape jelly

Instructions

1. Combine fruits, honey, vanilla extract and brandy; cover; soak for two to three days.
2. Add nuts to soaked fruit mixture; mix well, then set aside.
3. Cream butter; add sugar, then cream again.
4. Beat in eggs two at a time.
5. Add sifted dry ingredients.
6. Stir in jelly; blend. Pour batter over fruit-nut mixture; mix well.
7. Pour into 2 prepared 10 x 4 inch tube pans.
8. Bake at 250 degrees F for 3 hours and 50 minutes to 4 hours.
9. Cool completely; remove from pans.