Danish Fruitcake - Paradise Fruit

Ingredients

• 3 cups cake flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks) room temperature
• 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
• 3 large eggs, room temperature
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1 tbsp grated orange peel
• 1 tbsp orange juice
• 1 cup full-fat buttermilk, room temperature
• 2 boxes chopped dates, 7 1/2 ounces each
• 2 cups coarsely chopped pecans
• 1 large jar cherries, (16 ounces)*
• Red and green candied cherries, toppings (optional)
• Pecan halves to decorate top (optional)