Description
Indulgent Fruit Cake brings together classic flavors in a delightful dessert that celebrates seasonal produce. Sweet dried fruits and warm spices create a perfect companion for afternoon tea or elegant gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 600 grams (21.16 ounces) dried fruit
- 3 large eggs
- 230 grams (8.11 ounces) unsalted butter, melted
- 210 grams (7.41 ounces) plain flour
- 190 grams (6.70 ounces) brown sugar
Spices and Seasonings:
- 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Liquid and Flavoring Ingredients:
- 160 milliliters (5.41 fluid ounces) apple juice
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- Zest of 1 orange
Instructions
- Combine dried fruit, citrus zest, and juice in a mixing vessel. Apply microwave heat for 1-minute intervals, twice. Drape with cover and allow fruit to macerate for 60 minutes.
- Configure oven temperature to 150°C fan / 170°C conventional. Prepare an 8-inch circular baking pan by lining and greasing its interior.
- Integrate dry components: flour, granulated sugar, aromatic spices, leavening agent, and seasoning in a comprehensive mixing bowl.
- Delicately liquefy butter, permitting slight temperature reduction.
- Incorporate melted butter, fragrant vanilla extract, and eggs into the dry mixture. Blend thoroughly until uniform consistency emerges.
- Gently introduce macerated fruit and residual liquid, folding with minimal disruption to maintain airiness.
- Transfer batter into prepared pan, ensuring even distribution and smoothing surface with a spatula.
- Position pan in preheated oven. Bake for initial 60 minutes, then shield with aluminum foil and continue baking for additional 30 minutes.
- Verify cake’s readiness by inserting a slender skewer – it should emerge clean. Allow brief resting in pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire cooling rack for complete temperature equilibration.
Notes
- Soak fruits thoroughly to ensure maximum moisture and rich flavor absorption, preventing dryness in the final cake.
- Adjust spice levels according to personal taste preferences, experimenting with cinnamon, nutmeg, or ginger for unique flavor profiles.
- Replace some dried fruits with nuts like almonds or walnuts for added texture and nutritional variety, making the cake more interesting.
- Use gluten-free flour blend for a celiac-friendly version without compromising the cake’s traditional soft and dense texture.
- Prep Time: 1 hour 2 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Western
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 405
- Sugar: 35 g
- Sodium: 180 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 55 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg