Nut & Fruit Cake - Diamond Nuts

Ingredients

• 1cup dried apricots
• 1cup unsweetened tart cherries
• 1cup raisins
• 1/2 cup dates
• 1cup hot apple cider
• 8tablespoons (1 stick) butter, room temperature
• 1/2cup brown sugar, packed
• 2eggs room temperature
• 1/2teaspoon lemon juice
• 1/2teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4cup apple cider (leftover from soaked fruit)
• 1 1/2cups all purpose flour
• 1/2teaspoon baking powder
• 1teaspoon cinnamon
• 1teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/8teaspoon clove
• 3/4teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4cup crystalized ginger
• 1/2cup Diamond of California Chopped Walnuts
• 1/2cup Diamond of California Chopped Pecans
• 1/2cup dark chocolate, chopped (optional)
• 2tablespoons + 1 teaspoon sugar
• 2tablespoons water
• 1tablespoon + 1 teaspoon rum or bourbon, optional
• Diamond of California Pecan Halves for topping