Brandied holiday cakes

12 servings

Ingredients

Quantity Ingredient
⅓ cup Butter -- softened
1⅓ cup Packed light brown sugar
½ teaspoon Vanilla extract
2 larges Eggs
1 cup All-purpose flour
1 teaspoon Baking powder
½ teaspoon Salt
¼ cup Orange juice
2 tablespoons Brandy
1 cup Candied fruit
½ cup Chopped dates
¼ cup Dried apricots -- chopped
⅓ cup Sugar
⅓ cup Orange juice
2 tablespoons Brandy

Directions

GLAZE

1. Grease 12 muffin tins very generously with margarine or butter.

Set oven to 350 degrees. 2. Place the softened margarine, brown sugar and vanilla in a mixing bowl; cream well. Add eggs, one at a time, and beat well after each one. 3. Combine flour, baking powder and salt. Add to the creamed mixture alternately with orange juice and brandy. Stir in fruits that have been chopped quite small. Choose only the best quality of candied fruit. Do not include citron. 4.

Fill each muffin tin almost to the top. Place a pan of hot water on bottom rack of oven. Place the muffin tins on middle rack. Bake for about 25 minutes. 5. When cakes are done, remove from oven and cool for 10 minutes. Use a 2-tined fork to prick tops of cakes lightly.

Spoon the glaze over cakes.

GLAZE: Combine sugar, orange juice and brandy in a saucepan. Heat over low heat.

Yield: 12 small holiday cakes.

Recipe By : Jo Anne Merrill

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