Mike's Fabulous Fruitcake

I wanted to make fruitcake this year that people would enjoy and actually eat. Here is the recipe I came up with. My sister-in-law even asked for it! (Please note that my wife came up with the title, not me.) Time does not include "curing." (can also make 3 to 4 full sized loaves, approx)

• Ready In: 3 hrs 20 mins
• Yields: 25-30 mini loaves

Ingredients

• 1  lb dried currant
• 1  lb  dried apricot
• 1⁄2 lb dried dates
• 1⁄2 lb dried fig
• 1⁄4 lb  candied orange peel
• 1⁄4 lb candied lemon peel
• 1⁄4 lb crystallized ginger
• 1⁄2 lb walnuts
• 3  cups  Southern Comfort
• 1  lb flour
• 1  lb brown sugar
• 1  lb butter
• 2  tablespoons  lyle golden syrup
• 8  eggs
• 1  teaspoon ground allspice
• 1  teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1  teaspoon vanilla
• 1⁄2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1⁄2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 3 -4  cups  Southern Comfort, for soaking,as needed (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 275 degrees F.
2. Coarsely chop fruit, orange and lemon peel, ginger, and walnuts, then soak overnight in Southern Comfort.
3. In a very large bowl (a very big KitchenAid mixer works well) beat together the butter, brown sugar, and golden syrup, then beat in the eggs one at a time.
4. Add in flour, spices, and fruit-nut mixture.
5. Put in a greased 10-inch square pan or put in greased mini loaf pans; do not fill pans more than 2/3 full.
6. If using one pan, set it in a water bath to bake, but a water bath is not necessary for mini-loaves; bake at 275 degrees F for 3-4 hours (1-2 hours for mini loaves).
7. Cakes are done when a toothpick inserted comes out clean and dry.
8. Optional: soak finished fruitcake (s), wrapped in cheesecloth, in additional Southern Comfort.
9. Optional (preferred): let loaves"cure" for about 30 days in an airtight container in a cool place.
10. Makes about 25-30 mini loaves or 3 to 4 full sized loaves.