Placek Swiateczny - Polish Dessert Bread

John 11-44's Note:

A delicious Polish desert bread. We used to always get it at easter but great any time, toasted up and slathered in REAL Butter.

• Total Time: 1 hrs 20 mins
• Prep Time: 20 mins
• Cook Time: 1 hrs

Ingredients:

Serves: 4-6

Yield: 1.0 Loaf

• 5 eggs
• 2 ½ cups flour , all-purpose
• 2 cups sugar , icing
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ¾ cup walnuts or ¾ cup pecans
• 2⁄3; cup raisins
• 4 ounces orange peel
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup butter
• 1 tablespoon lemon peel , grated
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 3 tablespoons vodka or 3 tablespoons brandy

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Beat eggs with sugar using an electric mixer for 5 minutes at high speed.
3. Mix chopped nuts, raisins and orange peel with 2 tablespoons of flour.
4. Mix remaining flour with baking powder and salt.
5. Cream together the butter, lemon peel and vanilla extract until fluffy.
6. Beat in vodka, then add egg mixture gradually, beating constantly.
7. Add the flour mixture and beat for 5 minutes.
8. Fold fruit-nut mixture into the batter.
9. Turn into a greased and floured 9x5x3-inch pan or a 1 1/2 quart ring mold.
10. Bake at 350 degrees F. for 1 hour.
11. Cool cake in pan on wire rack for ten minutes, then turn cake out onto rack and cool completely.
12. Wrap in plastic wrap and set aside to mellow for a couple of days.