Buttermilk Fruit Cake
Prep Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups�all-purpose flour
1/2 cup�packed honey dates or �pitted Medjouls
2/3 cup�sugar
1/2 teaspoon�salt
1 teaspoon�allspice
1 teaspoon�grated nutmeg
1 teaspoon�cinnamon
1 teaspoon�baking soda
1 cup�buttermilk, heated until lukewarm or 1 cup�whole or reduced-fat milk with 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
8 tablespoons�(1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
1/2 cup�packed currants
1/2 cup�dark raisins
1/2 cup�golden raisins (sultanas)

Directions
Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Butter a two-piece 10-inch tube pan (or a 9-by 5-inch bread pan) and dust lightly with flour. Place on a baking sheet.

Place 1/2 cup of the flour on your cutting board. Put the dates on the flour and coarsley chop (the flour prevents the dates from disintegrating or turning into a mush). Scrape the mixture into a bowl and set aside.

Place the remaining 1 cup flour in a large bowl, add the sugar, salt, spices, and baking soda, and stir to blend. Place the buttermilk in a bowl and stir in the melted butter, then pour the mixture into the dry ingredients. Add the flour and date mixture and the remaining fruit and stir to blend well. Immediately pour into the prepared pan. Smooth the top with a wet spatula.

Place the pan and baking sheet in the center of the oven and bake for about 50 minutes, or until the cake is golden and pulling away a little from the side of the pan. A skewer inserted into the center of the cake should come out clean. Lift the tube out of the rim to remove the cake and place the cake on a rack to cool for 20 minutes or more before serving. Serve in thick slices.

Chef Suggestions
Note: We always leave this cake on the tube, storing it that way for the day or so it takes to get eaten. You can also remove it from the tube and place it on a plate: Run a knife between the cake and the tube to separate them, then tip the cake onto a plate .

Ease of preparation: Moderate

Preparation time: 20 min

Cook time: 50 min

Servings: makes 1 moist cake