Combine fruits with rum and wine in blender or food processor and grind into a paste. If using a blender, you may need to divide it into 2 or 3 batches.
Preheat oven to 300°
Using a mixer; cream butter, sugar, molasses, and egg yolks together. In a separate glass bowl, beat egg whites until foamy. Fold (slowly beat in) egg whites into butter mixture. After egg whites are fully combined, add fruits 1 cup at a time until completely mixed in. add mincemeat to the mixture.
Slowly add dry ingredients to mixture. Mix should be dark brown. If not add ¼ C. molasses or ½ tsp of browning, if available.
Butter and flour 3 – 9” cake pans you may line the buttered pans with parchment paper instead of flour. Pour batter into cake pans. Fill almost to the top. Cakes will not rise very much.
Bake for 1 hour. After 1-hour increase the temperature to 350° and bake for another 30 minutes. After 30 minutes insert a toothpick or clean knife into the center of the cake and remove it If the knife comes out clean. Otherwise, return cake the oven. Use a clean toothpick to test again after 5 minutes
Remove cakes from oven and place on cooling racks. Sprinkle cakes with wine or rum. Cool for about 2 hours and sprinkle with rum again. Cover cakes and allow to cool overnight (at least 8 hours) before icing or serving.
Notes
Fruits can be any combination of prunes, raisins, currants, cherries, and candied citrus peel. Use at least 3 for best flavor
For best results soak fruits in port wine (in a tightly sealed container) for at least 30 days
If using unsoaked fruits; boil fruits in a 750 ml bottle port wine for 30 minutes. Cool 45 minutes before blending. Use this method as a last resort. Cake will be more dense and less sweet.
Storage
Cakes can be kept frozen for up to 1 year or securely covered at room temperature for up to 1 month. To keep cakes without freezing. Cover cakes securely (a cake server will NOT do) Sprinkle each cake with ¼ C. rum or port wine every 5 days to retain moisture.
To freeze cake sprinkle with rum or port wine a 3rd time then wrap a layer of parchment paper and 2 layers of plastic wrap to prevent freezer burn and odors. Leave at room temperature for 24 hours before serving.