German Fruitcake

3/4 cup butter or margarine
2 cups sugar
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon baking soda
2/3 cup cherry preserves
2/3 cup apricot preserves
2/3 cup pineapple preserves
1 cup chopped pecans (optional)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Confectioner's sugar (optional)

Cream together butter, sugar and eggs.

Sift together flour and spices. Add flour mixture alternating with buttermilk to which the soda has been added.

Gently fold in the preserves, nuts and vanilla.

Pour into a greased and floured angel food cake (tube) pan.

Bake at 325* about 1 1/2 hours or till cake tests done. Cool for 15 minutes after removing from oven.

Sprinkle with sifted confectioner's sugar, if desired