White Coconut Fruitcake

Because this cake doesn’t need to be aged, it’s great for last minute baking.

• Ready In: 2 hrs 45 mins
• Yields: 2 8x4inch loaves

Ingredients

• 1  cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 2  cups sugar
• 1 (12 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk (NOT Evaporated Milk)
• 2  cups sweetened flaked coconut
• 1  cup  mixed nuts, without peanuts
• 2  cups golden raisins
• 1  cup  diced  mixed candied fruit
• 1⁄2 cup  candied pineapple
• 1⁄2 cup  candied red cherries
• 1⁄2 cup  candied green cherries
• 1  tablespoon  grated lemon zest
• 3 1⁄2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2  teaspoons baking powder
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 5  large  egg whites
• 1  tablespoon vanilla

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 300°F Grease two 8 x 4-inch loaf pans and line them with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar. Add the milk and beat until light and fluffy. In another bowl, combine the coconut, nuts, raisins, candied fruits, and lemon zest. Add 1/2 cup of the flour and mix well. In a separate bowl combine the remaining flour with the baking powder and salt. Add the fruits and the flour mixture to the creamed mixture and stir to combine thoroughly. In another bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff. Fold the whites and vanilla into the batter until well blended. Turn the batter into the prepared pans, spreading it evenly.
3. Bake for 2 hours 15 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the center of the cakes comes out clean. Cool in the pans for 15 minutes. Turn the cakes out of the pans and finish cooling on a wire rack. To keep, wrap in plastic and store for up to 4 weeks. Makes 2 loaf cakes.
4. The Great Holiday Baking Book.B. Ojakangas.