Special Fruit Cake

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 25 min. Bake: 1 hour + cooling
MAKES: 24 servings

Ingredients 

2 packages (8 ounces each) pitted dates, chopped
1 pound chopped candied pineapple
1 pound red candied cherries
1/2 pound walnut halves
1/2 pound Brazil nuts
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
Dash salt
4 eggs, separated
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions 

1. Preheat oven to 300°. Grease well and flour two 8x4-in. loaf pans. In a large bowl, combine dates, pineapple, cherries and nuts. In a small bowl, whisk flour, sugar, baking powder and salt; stir into fruit mixture until well coated.

2. In a small bowl, whisk egg yolks until slightly thickened. In another bowl, beat egg whites and vanilla until stiff peaks form. With a spatula, stir a fourth of the egg whites into egg yolk mixture until no white streaks remain. Fold in remaining egg whites until combined. Add to fruit mixture; gently fold until blended. Pour into prepared pans.

3. Bake 1 to 1-1/2 hours or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool in pans 20 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely. Wrap tightly and store in a cool dry place. Using a serrated knife, cut into slices.

Yield: 2 loaves (12 slices each).