Lester's Fruitcake

Ingredients

• 1 pound cherries
• 1 pound pineapple
• 1 pound citron peel
• 1/2 pound orange zest
• 1 pound figs
• 1 pound dates pitted
• 1 pound raisins, seedless
• 1 pound currants or golden raisins
• 2 1/2 pounds pecans
• 1/4 pound walnuts
• 12 large eggs
• 1 pound butter
• 3 1/2 cups flour, all-purpose
• 2 cups sugar granulated
• 1 cup molasses blackstrap
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda (dissolved in the molasses)
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon allspice
• 1/2 tablespoon cloves
• 1 tablespoon nutmeg
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 23 cup brandy or whiskey