Christmas Boiled Fruit Cake

Preheat the oven to 350°. Butter and flour a 9-inch-round springform pan.

In a medium saucepan, combine the butter with the cherries, raisins, cranberries, brown sugar, rum, molasses, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and cardamom and bring to a boil. Simmer over moderately high heat for 1 minute, stirring occasionally. Stir in the cream and return to a boil. Remove from the heat and let stand for 45 minutes.

Scrape the boiled fruit mixture into a large bowl. Stir in the Amarena cherries, pecans, almonds, shredded apple and eggs. Fold in the flour and baking soda until incorporated. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and transfer to a large rimmed baking sheet. Bake in the center of the oven for about 1 hour and 15 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool completely.

Unmold the cake and transfer to a serving platter. Cut into wedges and serve.