If you are looking for an alternative to cookies for holiday gifts, try this cake or the noir version. A sturdy cake like fruitcake is perfect for shipping across country, without any fear of breakage in transit. I also like to cut a couple of loaves into 2-inch slices, wrap them in parchment, and tie them with ribbon for small hostess gifts—it’s very useful to have a few of these cakes on hand during the holidays. Note that the dried fruits and nuts must macerate overnight.
