CHRISTMAS RUM-SOAKED FRUIT CAKE

A rich, moist and decadent Christmas fruit cake that is is perfect for the holidays and full of dried fruits and nuts. What’s Christmas without this old fashioned plum cake bringing back childhood memories and leaving you wanting for more !

INGREDIENTS ( for two 6 inch round cake)

2 cups all purpose flour

1 and a 1/4 cups powdered brown sugar

250g unsalted butter. softened at room temperature

5 eggs

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon dry ginger powder

1 teaspoon cinnamon powder

1/2 teaspoon cloves powder

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg powder

1 teaspoon cardamom powder

2 teaspoons vanilla essence

For Caramel:

Sugar – 1/2 cup

Water – 1/4 cup

For Soaking:

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour for tossing dry fruits

Use the recipe from this link for soaking in alcohol for the traditional taste or even a non-alcoholic version : rupzbaking.com/post/soaking-fruits-for-christmas-cake

1 cup dates

1/2 cup apricot

1/2 cup prunes

1/2 cup cherries

1/2 cup Kishmish / Sultanas

1 cup raisins / Black Currants

1/4 cup tutti-frutti

1/4 cup dried figs

1 cup nuts – cashew, walnuts, almonds, pista

Rum – I used Old Monk

INSTRUCTIONS

The first step to make the traditional Christmas cake is to soak the fruits and this would add an amazing flavor, richness and moisture to the cake.

If you forgot to soak them, you can do this a day ahead as well.

Once you are ready to prepare the cake, place the soaked dry fruits in a bowl and toss it with 2 tablespoons of flour and set aside.

Take sugar in a saucepan and heat it on low flame. Keep stirring as it slowly starts to melt. Keep heating on low heat till you get a nice dark colour. Now take this off the heat and add water and heat till the sugar dissolves again. Set aside to cool.

Preheat oven to 180 degree C. Prepare two baking pans with parchment paper and butter the sides and bottom of the pan. Set this aside as well .

Sieve flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, spice powders and set aside.

Take butter, sugar, vanilla in a bowl and beat using a hand-held mixer or stand mixer until creamy. Remember to scrape down the sides of the bowl.

Add in eggs one by one and beat till creamy. Now add in half of the flour mix and half of the caramel. Fold gently.

Next add remaining flour and remaining caramel and fold again. Add in dry fruit mix and fold gently.

Pour this batter into the prepared pans and bake for about 50 mins. Remove it and let it cool. Slice and serve.

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