Servings |
people
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Ingredients
- Raisins(Onakka munthiri) - 1 lb
- Dates(Eenthapazham) - 1 lb
- Candied fruits and orange and lemon peel - 1 cup
- Gold Rum - 1 cup
- Cashews - 2 cups
- All purpose flour(Maida) - 4 cups
- Baking powder - 3 tsp
- Butter(1 stick is 1/2 cup) - 4 sticks
- Sugar - 3.5 cups
- Sugar(to make caramelized syrup) - 1 cup
- Eggs - 12 nos
- Cinnamon powder(Karugapatta) - 1 heaped
- Nutmeg powder(Jathikka) - 1 heaped
- Cloves powder(Grambu) - 1 heaped
- Dry Ginger powder(Chukku) - 1 heaped
- Salt - 3 tsp
- Pure Vanilla essence - 4 tsp
Ingredients
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Instructions
- For preparing xmas fruit cake, first dice the fruits and keep in rum/brandy.
- Add rum and mix well.
- Keep this at room temperature over night.
- Dice or crush the nuts into small pieces. :- You can do these steps the day before you plan to make the cake.
- Place the eggs and butter at room temperature the night before you make the cake.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degree F.
- Measure and keep ready the flour, sugar and the flavorings. :- To make the caramel, use a white enameled pot, if you have one. The light surface will help to see exactly the caramelizing process. If you don't have one, use a medium saucepan.
- Place 1 cup of sugar in the saucepan.
- Turn the stove to high and place the pan on the stove and let it boil. :- Do not stir the contents at all. As sugar melts and caramelizes, you may swirl the pan a bit once or twice.
- Within 7 - 10 mins, a cherry wood colored caramel forms.
- Immediately, remove the pan from the stove and very carefully add 1 cup of water to the caramel.
- :- You may hold the pan above the sink and slowly add the water, for it may splash.
- Stir the contents well to dissolve the caramel. Keep this aside.
- Sift flour and baking powder and all dry spices, a couple of times. Then add 2 cups of fruits which is soaked in rum and coat it well.
- In a large container, whisk butter first and then add 4 cups of sugar and whisk again, until it is creamy.
- Add egg yolk one by one and whisk well.
- Add the coated fruit-flour mix and fold this in with a wooden or plastic spatula or spoon.
- Spoon this into a 10 inch non stick loaf pan.
- Bake for 20 minutes at 400 degree F and then reduce temp to 300 and bake for another 50 minutes. :- You may line the pan with parchment paper or brown paper.
- :- Check for done by inserting a toothpick in the middle of the pan. If the toothpick comes out clean, the cake is done. If not, bake for another 10 - 15 mins and check again.
- Remove the cake from the oven and place it on a cooling rake.
- Pierce the cake with toothpick, and pour Brandy(about 3-4 tablespoon on each) on top and let it soak(Optional) :- This will enhance the flavor and gives a longer shelf life.
- Remove the cake from the pan only after it is allowed to cool completely.
- Before storing, cover the cake completely with wax paper first and then with aluminum foil and keep in the refrigerator.
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