Fruit Cake Recipe

CHRISTMAS SPECIAL FRUIT CAKE

Cooking time: 30 minutes(prep time) + 1 hour(Baking time)                          Serves: 8-10

INGREDIENTS:

1. All purpose Flour (100 gm)
2. Powdered sugar (100 gm)
3. Unsalted Butter (100 gm)
4. Eggs (2) 
5. Tutti frutti (1 cup)
6. Chopped cherries, cranberries
7. Chopped Cashews, almonds, walnuts, raisins
8. Vanilla essence
9. Spice powder (cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, clove)
10. Baking powder (1 tablespoon) 
11. Baking soda (1 teaspoon)
12. Salt (1/4 teaspoon)

METHOD:

1. In a mixing bowl add 100 gm of unsalted butter. Using an electric hand blender or simply a whisk beat the butter until its smooth. To this add 100 gm of powdered sugar. Cream the butter and sugar with the electric blender for 2-3 minutes until smooth and lump free.
2. Break 2 eggs separately in a bowl. Add the eggs one at a time in the butter-sugar mix and beat for 4-5 minutes until smooth. To this add 1 teaspoon of  vanilla essence and mix well.
3. In a separate bowl sift in the dry ingredients viz, 100 gm of all purpose flour, 1 tablespoon of baking powder, 1 teaspoon of baking soda, 1/4 teaspoon of salt and 1 tablespoon of the spice powder. Sift in all these and mix. 
4. To the wet ingredients (butter-sugar-egg mix) add in the dry ingredients and fold in using cut and fold method using a spatula. 
5. To this batter add tutti frutti, chopped cherries, cranberries, cashews, almonds, walnuts, raisins. Mix gently and the fruit cake batter is ready to bake. 
6. Grease a 9" by 5 1/2" by 3" baking loaf tin and pour the batter. Even out the top and tap on the bench to release trapped air.
7. Bake in a preheated oven at 180 degree Celsius for 45-60 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
8. Cut in slices, dust with icing sugar and serve. Wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New year.

NOTES:

1. Make sure all the ingredients are at room temperature before you start preparations.
2. It is best to use unsalted butter. However you may use regular salted butter or oil. If you are using regular butter don't add any additional salt in the batter.
3. Traditionally for making fruit cakes, Tutti frutti, raisins, cranberries, cherries, dates are dipped in rum or whiskey or scotch for 10-15 days and then used to make the cake. If you want you can skip this process and make alcohol free Fruit Cake.
4. It is best to use a electric hand blender to make the batter. However if you don't have one use a regular hand held whisk for this purpose.
5. If you don't want to use eggs, use 1 cup of buttermilk instead. 
6. Sift all the dry ingredients to have a lump free cake.
7. Use nuts and fruits according to your choice. 
8. Spice powder is a must for Fruit Cake. I prefer using nutmeg, cinnamon, clove and cardamom. You can add some ginger powder too to give a rich warm flavor.
9. You can bake in any baking pan available to you. But traditionally fruit cakes are made in loaf tins. However you can use a round, square or a rectangular baking pan.
10. Make sure you grease the pan well to avoid cake sticking to the pan.
11. Preheat oven at 180 degree Celsius and bake at 180 degree Celsius for 45-60 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. 
12. For baking in the microwave oven, bake in the convection mode at 180 degree Celsius for 45-60 minutes.
13. You can also bake on the gas or induction in a pressure cooker. Place some salt on the bottom and add the baking pan. Cover with the lid and cook on medium flame for 45-60 minutes.
14. If you have any doubts refer to our YouTube Video for this recipe pinned at the top of the page.
15. For more such mouth watering and sumptuous recipes please visit our YouTube Channel "Let's Cook" 
    
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