Festive Fruitcake

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup dark raisins
• 1/2 cup golden raisins
• 1/2 cup dried apricots, chopped
• 1/4 cup dark rum
• 1/2 cup chopped almonds
• 2 1/2 cups candied fruits
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1 1/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 teaspoon Sweet 'N Low zero calorie sweetener
• 1/2 cup margarine, softened

Preparation

In bowl, combine candied fruits, dark and golden raisins, apricots, and rum; set aside about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in almonds. Preheat oven to 300F. In another bowl with mixer, cream margarine, sugar and Sweet 'N Low. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Gradually stir in dry ingredients and fruit mixture. Divide batter between two loaf pans sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Bake 1 hour and 45 minutes. Cool in pans 10 minutes; remove and cool on wire racks.

Gift Idea: Wrap fruitcake in colored cellophane; tie with decorative ribbon.