SOAKING FRUITS FOR CHRISTMAS CAKE

The first step to make the traditional Christmas cake adding an amazing flavor, richness and moisture to the cake.

Tips :

• Soak the dry fruits atleast two weeks in advance to baking the cake. The longer you soak the fruits, the deeper would be the taste of your cake.

• If you missed soaking, try and do it atleast overnight.

• It is preferable to stir/shake the soaked fruits to keep them moist evenly. Otherwise the uncovered fruits will dry up. Add ¼ cup more rum or at a time into the mixture, if needed.

• If you want a non-alcoholic version, use orange juice or grape juice instead of rum but soak the fruits no more than a week in advance.

• To soak your fruits, use a clean dry sterilized airtight glass container.

• Cover and store them airtight at room temperature until further use. Keep it away from sunlight.

INGREDIENTS

Approx : 1 kg grams ( Makes around four 8" cakes)

50g sultanas , washed and dried

50g apricot, washed and dried

50g dried peach

100g black raisins

75g tutti Frutti

100g cranberry

100g blueberry

100g cherry

100g strawberries

25g prunes

100g seedless dates

100g dried orange peel

50g dried candied ginger

Spices - 1 and 3/4 tablespoon for 1 kg dry fruits

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1 nutmeg

25 to 30 nos cloves

20 nos cardamom

2 pieces cinnamon

For mixing :

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3/4 cup orange marmalade

1/2 cup blackcurrant jam

3 tablespoon or 1/4 cup honey

1 and 3/4 tablespoon spices

900 grams of dry fruits

1 cup rum or wine or brandy – I used Old Monk rum

INSTRUCTIONS

Chop all the fruits into bite size pieces on a dry surface or chopping board.

Place the chopped fruits in the clean and dry mixing bowl and mix gently with a wooden spoon. Add the marmalade, honey and spices and mix well. Finally add the rum and mix again.

Place this mixture in a clean dry glass container and cover with the lid. The glass container should be air tight.

Place the container in a dry and dark place.

Stir the fruit mix with a wooden spatula/spoon on each day or at least on alternate day until the baking day.

This is what I soaked last year.

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