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+ servings

Xmas Fruit Cake

Fruit cake for holiday season
Cuisine Kerala
Servings 25 people

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb Raisins Onakka munthiri
  • 1 lb Dates Eenthapazham
  • 1 cup Candied fruits and orange and lemon peel
  • 1 cup Gold rum
  • 2 cups Cashews
  • 4 cups All purpose flour Maida
  • 3 tsp Baking powder
  • 4 sticks Butter 1 stick is 1/2 cup
  • 3.5 cups Sugar
  • 1 cup Sugar to make caramelized syrup
  • 12 nos Eggs
  • 1 heaped Cinnamon powder Karugapatta
  • 1 heaped Nutmeg powder Jathikka
  • 1 heaped Cloves powder Grambu
  • 1 heaped Dry ginger powder Chukku
  • 3 tsp Salt
  • 4 tsp Pure Vanilla essence

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.
  • Pour in the caramel syrup, salt and vanilla extract and mix everything together.
  • 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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