Slice and Bake Chocolate Fruitcake Rounds

Makes about 60 cookies

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 1/2 cups cake flour
1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 ounce unsweetened chocolate
1 cup mixed candied fruit, finely chopped
1 egg white, beaten

In a mixing bowl, beat together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla extract.

In a separate bowl, sift together flour, baking soda and salt. Stir into butter mixture until well blended. Set aside 1/3 of dough and place in another mixing bowl.

In the top of a double boiler over hot (not boiling) water, melt chocolate. Stir melted chocolate into 1/3 of dough. Stir candied fruit into remaining 2/3 dough and form into a 2-inch thick roll. Refrigerate about 2 hours.

On a lightly floured surface or between two sheets of wax paper, roll chocolate dough into an 1/8 inch thick square. Brush lightly with beaten egg white. Place roll of white dough at one end of the chocolate dough and roll up so that the chocolate dough covers the white dough. Refrigerate the double roll about 2 hours.

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees F. Remove dough from the refrigerator and slice into 1/4-inch slices with a sharp knife. Place on ungreased cookie sheets and bake about 10 minutes. Allow to cool for 1 minute on the baking sheet and remove to wire racks to cool completely. Store in airtight containers at room temperature for about 2 weeks.