Mother's Dark Velvet Cake - Mrs. Donnelly Hagger (Fruit and Spice Cake)

Mother's Dark Velvet Cake 

1 cup brown sugar
1 cup butter
3 eggs
3/4  cup sour milk
1 tbsp molasses
1 cup currants
1 cup raisins
1 cup candied orange peel
1 cup candied citron
3 tbsp cooking wine
1/2 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
3 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda dissolved in 1/4 cup warm water

Cream better and sugar, add eggs and blend. Add sour milk and blend. Add molasses, fruit and cooking wine and mix well. Sift dry ingredients together except soda, and combine with thortening-sugar mixture. Add the soda mixed in the 1/4 cup warm water, mix well. Pour into 9 x 13 greased pan and bake at 350 deg. 50 to 60 minutes or until done.
This was a govorite cake of my father's. Before putting it in the oven, my mother would sprinkle sugar over the tipe. If desired it could also be frosted.
- - Mrs. Donnelly Hagger
Trinity Treasures, Trinity Lutheran Church, Blue Earth, MN 1966