Sweet Italian Biscuit Bread

This is a unique, biscuit-like Italian bread flavored with sweet Marsala and studded with dried fruits. Beautiful when served with Mascarpone cheese blended with a bit of confectioner's sugar and a touch of vanilla extract - heaven with coffee! It's unusual, and one of my favorites from the Silver Palate authors.

• Ready In: 1 hr 30 mins
• Yields: 1 loaf

Ingredients

• 1  cup butter, softened
• 1  cup sugar
• 4  eggs
• 3  tablespoons marsala
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1  pinch salt
• 1⁄3 cup  diced  dried apricot
• 1⁄3 cup  diced dried fig
• 1⁄3 cup  diced dates
• 1 3⁄4 cups flour
• 1⁄2 cup  chopped hazelnuts

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Butter and flour a 9x4 inch loaf pan.
3. Cream together butter and sugar.
4. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well.
5. Beat in Marsala, vanilla and salt.
6. Toss dried fruits with flour and stir mixture into batter until well-combined.
7. Stir in hazelnuts.
8. Pour batter into prepared pan.
9. Bake about 1 hour, until slightly golden.
10. Remove from oven, let stand 10 minutes.
11. Place on a rack to cool completely.