Texas Cowboy Cake

I live in Texas, this cake is very appealing to me. The general concept behind this recipe was that it contains only ingredients a ranch would have readily available. That may be true , or it may be a tall tale! Either way, I like the story and I believe it to be true! I've added a few comments here and yonder......

Texas Cowboy Cake:

3 C sugar
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
3/4 tsp ground cloves
2 C water
1 C strong brewed coffee
1 box (15oz.) raisins
1 box (8oz.) dates, chopped
3/4 C (1 1/2 sticks) butter
4 1/2 C flour
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 TBS baking powder
3/4 tsp salt
1 C chopped pecans
1 C pecan halves , or enough pecans to decorate the tops of the cakes, as per the recipe directions!
1/2 C light corn syrup
2 TBS bourbon or rum (optional)

Combine the first 8 ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a low boil on medium heat, stirring constantly.
Reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes.
Remove from heat to cool

Sift together:
flour
baking soda
baking powder
salt

Once cooled to lukewarm, slowly stir the liquid spice/fruit mixture into the dry ingredients.
Pour batter into 2 -  9"X 5" loaf pans that have been well greased. ( I use my Pan Release Mix found on the Blog under Tips, Hints and More) , you can either butter them or spray with a vegetable cooking spray. The Pan Release Mix is a guarantee that the cakes will release, that's my Cowboy guarantee!

Arrange pecan halves in a decorative pattern on top of the batter in each pan.
Bake at 300 degrees for 1 hour.
Remove from the oven for the next step.

With a brush, gently apply a coat of corn syrup ( the bourbon or rum may be added to the syrup at this time, as an option), over both of the cakes, utilizing all of the syrup. Ye Haw, cowboys add the booze!
Probably Jack Daniels Tennessee Whiskey, I'm just sayin !

Return the cakes to the oven and continue to bake an additional hour, until a toothpick comes out clean in the center.

Cool completely on a wire cooling rack.

Serve the cake slices drizzled with additional bourbon or rum along with whipped cream.
( or you might consider making the whipped cream with the addition of the booze)!

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!