1 c. seedless raisins
1 c. walnut meats
3 c. sifted all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. ground allspice
2 sticks (1/2 lb.) butter
1/2 c. brown sugar
5 eggs
1 c. apricot jam
1 c. strong maple syrup
2 tsp. maple flavor (optional)
3/4 c. buttermilk
Confectioners' sugar
Walnut halves

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Soak raisins to plump, drain and pat dry. Chop walnut meats, mix with raisins and shake in a bag with 1/4 cup flour to coat lightly. Sift together flour, baking powder, soda, salt and spice. Cream butter and sugar until light, beat in eggs, one at a time. Beat in jam until smooth, then the flour alternating with buttermilk and finally the maple syrup. Next, add floured nuts and raisins and pour into a heavily buttered 9-inch tube pan.

Bake in the top third of a 350 degree oven for about 1 1/4 hours, or until cake tests done. Let it cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a serving plate and when completely cool sprinkle with confectioners' sugar and dot with walnut halves. Serves 10-12.