Arden H. Duane Worked as a syndicated food writer for the American Negro Press. Duane called "fruitcake the all-star" of any holiday feast. Here’s another one of his cake recipes.
Alabama Dark Fruitcake Recipe
Ingredients
2 cups brown sugar
1 cup shortening
4 teaspoons baking soda
3 cups buttermilk
8 cups flour
2 pounds raisins
2 pounds citron
2 cups figs
2 cups dates
2 cups jam any kind
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons allspice
2 teaspoons nutmeg
4 teaspoons cinnamon
2 cups pecans
1 cup walnuts
1 cup almonds
1 cup molasses
Instruction
cream shortening and sugar, add baking soda the buttermilk, use 4 cups flour for the cake and 4 cups with which to dredge the fruit. Combine other ingredients, mix thoroughly and bake in moderate oven 3 to 4 1/2 hours. (Atlanta Daily World December 1, 1936)