1 c. butter
1 3/4 c. sugar
3 eggs
2 c. flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 tbsp. orange juice
1 c. buttermilk
2 boxes dates, chopped
2 c. chopped nuts
1 lg. bottle maraschino cherries
1 tbsp. grated orange rind
1 tsp. vanilla

Cream butter and sugar on high speed. Add eggs, one at a time. Sift 1 cup flour, add cherries, dates, nuts and orange rind. Coat fruits with flour. Stir by hand just enough to get mixed with butter. Add flour, soda, salt with buttermilk alternately. Add vanilla. Do not overbeat. Bake in tube pan at 350 degrees for 1 hour and 20 minutes.

SAUCE FOR CHRISTMAS CAKE:

1 orange rind, grated
1 c. sugar
1 c. orange juice
1 c. coconut

Put orange rind in bowl, add sugar, mix well. Add orange juice and dissolve sugar. Add coconut. Pour over cake. Let set for 24 hours before cutting it.