Aussie Holiday Fruitcake i so delicious, The recipe was quick an d easy and tasted fantastic. Serve for your family and friends, from  ABS-CBN Food Entertainmnet recipe by Lydia Castillo.

Ingredients 

Makes 3 loaf-size (8x4-inch) pans

3 cups dried mixed fruit

3/4 cup chopped dried dates

1/2 grams dried apricots, chopped

1/2 cup Cointreau

1 440-gram can crushed

pineapples, drained

3/4 cup unsalted butter, cubed

1 cup brown sugar

3 eggs

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2/3 cup self-raising flour (or substitute 1 cup all-purpose flour +11/2 teaspoons baking powder+1/2 teaspoon salt)

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 tablespoon mixed spice

1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

1 tablespoon nutmeg

1/4 cup blanched almonds

1/2 cup glazed red and green cherries

Method 

In a medium mixing baM, combine mixed fruits, dates, apricots and Cointreau. 

Soak for two hours then stir in pineapples. Drain and set fruit mixture aside.

Preheat oven to 300°F.

Line base and sides of the three loaf pans with two layers of parchment paper.

In a large bowl of an electric mixer, cream together the butter and sugar. 

Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition (mixture will look curdled at this stage). Set butter mixture aside. In another bowl, sift together the two kinds of flour, baking soda, mixed spice, cinnamon and nutmeg.

Fold flour mixture alternately with fruit mixture into the butter mixture in three batches, until well combined. Spoon mixture into prepared pan.

Moisten hands and smooth the surface of the batter to prevent large cracks from forming. Tap cake pan on counter a couple of times to remove any air pockets.

Decorate the outer edge of the batter with almonds. Add a circle of cherries. Finish with a circle of almonds in the middle.

Bake for 1 hour then cover cake with foil to prevent over-browning. 

Bake an additional 30 minutes or until cake tester inserted in center comes out clean.