Christmas is closely associated with happiness, relations, togetherness and good tasty meals. Among the many traditions, one dessert stands out as a timeless favorite: the Christmas fruitcake. Packed with delicious dried fruits and warmed up spices and with a comment of holiday mood, this cake must become a highlight of any feast. So if you are here to learn the method on how to make the best fruitcake for your loved ones, then read on. This recipe is an ideal one for anyone, from the expert baker to the ‘newby’ to baking as we take every step to make sure your Christmas is special.
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Why Fruitcake Is the Star of Christmas Desserts
They include fruit cakes as special baked meals best suited for the holiday season across the world. The background of this dessert falls back to Roman civilization; the ancients’ concoction from seeds, nuts and barley created from the probe base of this delicacy. The fruit cake in over the years has become moist and rich cake that is enjoyed during the holiday seasons. Because of the bright jumble of the colors and the contrasting texture, I associate it with abundance and happiness – getting lots of gifts.
Ingredients for the Perfect Christmas Fruitcake
For the base of Cake:
- All purpose flour 2 cups
- Baking Powder 1 Teaspoon
- Salt ½ teaspoon
- Ground Cinnamon 1Teaspoon
- Ground Nutmeg ½ teaspoon
For the Fruit Mixture
- Raisins ¾ cup
- Dried Cranberries ¾ cup
- Chopped Dates ½ cup
- Candied Orange peel ½ cup
- Chopped Almonds ½ cup
- Chopped Walnuts ½ cup
- Dark rum or Orange juice ¾ cup
For the wet Ingredients
- Unsalted Butter 1 cup softened
- Brown Sugar 1 Cup
- Eggs 4 Large
- Vanilla extract 1 teaspoon
- Molasses ¼ cup
Preparation Steps
1. Prepare the fruit mixture
- For this recipe, put raisins, cranberries, dates that are chopped, candied orange peel, almonds and walnuts in a big bowl.
- Finally, pour over dark rum or orange juice and pour over all the fruits.
- Place the bowl in a plastic wrap then let it stay for several hours or better still, for a whole night. This cause the fruits to soak the liquid hence have a moist and tasty cake.
2. Preheat and Prepare
- First, preheat your oven to a temperature of 325°F or 165°C
- Grease a 9 inch round or square cake tin and put parchment paper on the bottom.
- Shake a little of the remaining flour and gently tap the pan to remove surplus flour.
3. Mix the Dry Ingredients
- To another bowl, sift the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg powders.
- Set aside
4. Cream Butter and Sugar
- In a large mixing bowl, Put cream butter and brown sugar and mix it till fluffy. This process includes air allowing the cake to be soft.
- Then add the eggs one after the other mixing well at least after each addition.
- Use the vanilla extract and add the molasses into the mixture.
5. Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients
- A little at a time, pour the dry components into the wet batch and mix, then pour additional liquid left in the fruits.
- It is very important not to over beat the batter after addition of the ingredients, stir gently to mix evenly.
6. Fold in the Fruits
- Pour out water used in the soaking of fruits as this may make your Jam wet.
- Pour a portion of the fruit mixture into the batter and fold it, garnishing all sides with the batter.
7. Bake the Cake
- Finally, take the batter and pour this into the bake cake pan we prepared earlier.
- Now the top needs to be smoothed with a spatula.
- Dimensions and Preparation Baking for 60-70 minutes or slightly until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out for the cake.
- After that ensure that the cake cools in the pan for the next 15 minutes before transferring it on the wire rack.
Aging Your Fruitcake for Ultimate Flavor
Traditional Christmas fruit cake are the best when they are aged. Follow these steps to age your cake:
- Once the cake is cool use parchment paper and aluminum foil to wrap it up very tightly.
- Keep it well sealed in an air tight jar or container and should be stored in cooler and dry area.
- Once a week “feed” the cake, with a tablespoon of rum brandy or orange juice which will help to moisten the cake. This serves to improve the taste and to keep it moist or rather tender as the normal English would put it.
- You would better store it in the refrigerator and ideally, it should be aged for 2-4 weeks before consuming.
Tips for the Perfect Christmas Fruitcake
- Choose Quality Ingredients: It is recommended that for the best result should use high-quality dried fruits, fresh spices, and good quality of butter.
- Avoid Overmixing: The cake turns out to be very dry if too much work is done in the preparation of the cake. Mix until just combined.
- Customize the Fruits: You can substitute or include your preferred choose of dried fruits and nuts.
- Prevent Overbaking: It is best to check your cake after one hour to prevent over baking and thereby making the cake dry.
- Decorate Creatively: For a festive look, finish off with glazed cherries, whole nuts or dust over some powdered sugar.
Serving Suggestions
- Cut the fruitcake thinly and accompany with whipped cream or courteous one scoop vanilla ice cream.
- This can be served with hot chocolate or nice spiced wine, for extra comforting feel.
Conclusion
To create a Christmas fruit cake isn’t all about mixing the ingredients and then putting the batter into the oven; It is about assembling a treat that represents the Christmas season . This cake has a tendency to warm up hearts because of the combination of yummy fruits, spices and warm undertone. Included in this step by step guide is everything you need to make the dishes you will impress your family and friends with. Therefore, put on your kitchen gloves, your play chef’s hat, and immerse yourself into the Christmas entertaining spirit. Happy baking!
FAQ’s
1. Is it possible to prepare a fruit cake without using alcohol?
Yes! Replace the rum/ brandy with orange juice, apple juice or even strong tea.
2. How long does fruitcake last?
Properly kept fruitcake can also last for several months to a year depending with its preparation. If your state is hot, you should spend two weeks in the refrigerator.
3. Can I freeze fruitcake?
Absolutely. The cake should be wrapped gently in plastic and aluminum foil and then frozen. Should be thawed in the refrigerator overnight and served immediately after.