MF Notes: Made a 1/2 batch. Good. Could be sweeter (more molasses?) Missing something, maybe candied citrus? Needs more cherries. I baked in 4 mini loaf pans for one hour. TOO long and too hot, burned. Try 300 for 40 minutes. The pan with a pan cozy was not as burned. Not sure worth the hassle tho.

Combine all fruit except cherries in the rum in jar.Llet stand at room temp overnight.

Make the cake: Preheat oven to 325°F. Parchment/butter baking pans.

Beat butter, sugar in bowl until light. Beat in eggs 1 at a time, then vanilla, molasses.

Whisk flour with baking powder, baking soda and spices. Add to wet in 3 additions. Stir in pecans, cherries, fruit mixture and soaking liquid.

Divide batter among pans. Top with pecan halves and cherries. Place on baking sheet and place on center rack of oven. Bake until tester inserted into center of cakes comes out clean, about 1 hour.

Cool in pans on racks. Wrap in plastic. Let stand 1-3 days at room teemp. Wrap in cheesecloth and baste with liquor, then weekly.