What is Christmas without a Fruit cake!!! Fruit studded moist, and delicious cake is one of the things I clearly remember as something associated with X’mas.
In school, the last day of the exam before the school closes for the winter holidays used to be the day we all used to look forward to.Santa would visit each class and distribute fruit cakes and small gifts to each of us. That was the highlight of the day. No matter how depressing or tough the exams were, the last day was something we all loved.
Later, it was my friends and neighbors who used to bring us these cakes for Christmas. Now it is my time to bake a few!
One thing that deters us from baking a Christmas cake is the use of Rum / other spirits. But this recipe does not stop you from baking a moist and delicious cake!Yes, this cake is Eggless , does not need months of soaking time[for the fruits] and most importantly of all does not require alcohol or caramel syrup!
I used:
Adapted from : Maria’s Menu
Mixed dry fruits – 200 grams[I
used different colored tutti frutti, grazed cherries, sultanas and
raisins]
Apple juice- 200 ml [I used Tropicana Brand]
Measure out the dry fruits and soak it in apple juice. Let it sit over night. I left it on the counter for a few hours and then let it sit in the fridge till I got ready to bake.
All purpose flour / Maida- 1 1/4 cups
Soft brown sugar- 175 grams / 1 cup approx, softened
Butter- 90 grams
Baking soda- 1/2 teaspoon
Baking Powder- 1/2 teaspoon
Whisked thick yogurt – 1/2 temerature
Hot milk-1/4 cup
Vanilla essence- 1 teaspoon
For the spice mix
Cinnamon powder- 1/2 teaspoon
Clove- 1
Cardamom seeds- from 2 pods
Sugar- 1 teaspoon
Take the ingredients for the spice mix in mixie jar and powder. Keep aside.
Sift the flour with baking powder and baking soda.
Add the sifted flour,spice powder that you ground earlier and mix to combine .Do not over mix the batter.Add the dry fruits and mix gently.
Grease and dust a cake tin and put in the batter and tap gently. Bake in a pre heated oven at 180 degree C for 50 minutes / till a skewer comes out clean when inserted in the center. The top of my cake started browning after 30 minutes. So I covered the pan loosely with a piece of aluminium foil. Do this only if the top browns fast.
Once the cake is done, remove from oven and let it sit on the counter for 5 minutes. Gently invert in onto a plate and let it cool on a wire rack.
Slice after it has cooled fully….
Delcious Xmas fruit cake is ready to be served!
Bon Appetit…
wonderful cake to have for this festival season.
I made this last year PJ and we all enjoyed it…I am yet to make my fruit cake this year, it will be up shortly..yours has come out so well..:)
Alcohol and soaking dry fruits always keeps me away from even considering baking a fruit cake. This is recipe is seems to require least amount of prep time and is alcohol free. Looks moist and delicious.
Beautiful cake, i can have a super huge slice of this cake rite now, even i prepared my xmas cakes this year without alcohol and soaking dry fruits..
A lovely soft and moist Christmas cake, eggless alcohol free , perfect.
Delicious fruit cake.
wonderful how you are able to adapt these delicious recipes to your own dietary requirements
Scrumptious cake PJ!! No soaking of fruits and no alcohol makes it even more doable!!
Can we use normal regular sugar 1 cup along with little caramel syrup to get this dark colour in cake?
Yes, you can substitute regular sugar for brown sugar. A little caramel syrup might give the color but I have never used it in cakes. In case you do, will be happy to hear about the results 🙂
Thank u for the quick reply…
Will try this recipe soon and let u know the feedback very soon
I will add some nuts like cashew,almond,walnut,pista too
Few more queries
Is that 1/2 cup curd at room temperature?
Pls mention when did u add the spice mix in the batter
Leah Mol, use curd at room temperature. Adding nuts is a good idea. And the spice mix is added along with the sifted flour into the wet mixture.
Yes, I discarded the apple juice and used only the fruits.
Ok thank u padmaja
Will try this for christmas…