Monday, December 24, 2018

Christmas Fruit Cake


Merry Christmas to all the bloggers in every parts of the world. I wish us peace and good health so we can continue our passion for sharing, writing and eating. May this season find us love and contentment. In honor of my fellow bloggers, this post is especially for all of you. The past months I have been attending linky parties and there are those who really take time to drop by with lovely comments. Thank you all for the kind words and I appreciate the warmth and sunshine that my blog has been receiving since. Together lets make a toast and enjoy this drunken Fruit Cake. Let's eat. Let's giggle. Let's be merry.

My love affair with fruit cake started during my yuppie days. For some years I am just a buyer and a receiver of this cake. The truth is Christmas means Fruit Cake to me, ha ha ha! It was year 2010 when I baked my first Fruit Cake and I have had a journey of trial and error too. I didn't give up until I got what I wanted. If you hate Fruit Cake, no! please don't.. you are missing the fruity, nutty, drunken spirit of Christmas. Please take note that the process of preparation starts early. In my case, as early as Dec 1, the mixture of mixed fruits, nuts and brandy should be done and come Dec 15, I am baking.
Ingredients 
 2 sticks butter
1 cup brown sugar
4 large eggs
1 cup orange juice
1/2 cup of treacle or honey
2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons milk powder
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon mixed spices
1 teaspoon cinnamon powder
1 tsp baking soda
7 cups mixed fruits (raisins,sultanas,currants,dried cranberries,apricot,dates,mixed peel,cherries)
1 cup of nuts ( hazelnut,pecan,pistachio )
1 1/2 cup brandy
1 bottle of brandy for curing
Direction:
In an airtight container mix together the ff: brandy, mixed fruits,  mixed peel and nuts.
Cover it tightly and wait for your schedule of baking
Grease and line 4 mini loaf pans. Preheat the oven to 300 F or 150 C.
Sift the flour, milk powder and spices together.
Combine dried fruits, butter, sugar, honey and orange juice in a large saucepan.
Stir over low heat until the sugar has dissolved. 
Bring the mixture to boil and simmer for about 5 minutes over low heat.
Stir consistently. Remove the saucepan and leave to cool.
Make sure that the mixture is room temperature.
Combine the eggs and baking soda, gently beat it using a fork. 
Gently stir it into the cooled fruit mixture. Fold in the sifted ingredients. 
Spread evenly into prepared pan and bake for about 1 hour or until cooked.
Remove the cake and brush the top with brandy. 
Cover it with aluminium foil. Arrange in a container and set aside in the fridge.
The most important thing, every night before going to bed, brush the fruit cakes with rum.
Continue this process every day until the great big night of Noche Buena.
The cake is best eaten after a few days and weeks of aging.

16 comments:

  1. I've never tried fruit cake before but I sure have heard a lot about it. Maybe we'll have to try this :) Thanks for sharing

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    1. Thank you Chas. Happy New Year. Have a lovely week ahead.

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  2. Beautiful cakes. Thanks for sharing at the What's for Dinner party - have a wonderful weekend!

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    1. Thank you Helen. Happy New Year to you. Have a lovely week ahead.

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  3. Now that looks like a good fruit cake! I haven't always been a fan of fruitcake. More like, make the cake with just the nuts. LOL! But over the past few years I have actually enjoyed a slice of homemade fruit cake with a cup of coffee. Still not a big fan of the fruit though. This looks amazing. Hugs and blessings, Cindy

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    1. I was anti fruit cake then. But for some reasons my taste evolved and suddenly I like it. I even bake it every year. Have a lovely week ahead and Happy New Year.

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  4. This sounds delicious, am going to pin the recipe for next year #alittlebitofeverything@_karendennis

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    1. Thank you Karen. i hope you can bake it next year's holiday Season.

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  5. Your amazing Christmas Fruit Cake reminds me of my Mother who always made and loved Fruit Cake. This looks very good! Thanks so much for sharing your special talent with us at Full Plate Thursday and may you have a safe & prosperous new year!

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    1. Thank you Miz Helen. I am happy this cake brought you back to a happy memory with your mother.Happy New Year to you and to your family.

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  6. I have never been a fruit cake lover but this past year I tried to make one for my 92 step mother who is. She made fruitcake for years but I made a lame joke sometime in the early 80's and she vowed I would never get to try her fruitcake. Well that backfired as she begged me to make her one this and I didn't know what style of fruitcake she wanted. So I tried one, but it wasn't right. I am going to try yours because I think at 92, if you want fruitcake, you should have fruitcake! And it might not be ready for a month, but that's ok. I'll make one every month Christmtas or not until I get it right! And I might try a taste or two, too, lol! Happy New Year and Happy Fiesta Friday! Thanks for celebrating with us this week! Mollie

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    1. Hello Mollie, Oh I love your down the memory lane with step mother, its funny, thank you for sharing. Perhaps, you can try this recipe and hopefully it works with your stepmom. ha ha ha! thats what I did, I keep on making every month until I got the perfect result just in time for Christmas. Im sorry but are messages is practically making me laugh and Im all alone here.. ha ha ha. Happy New Year

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  7. My grandmother used to make fruitcake every year. She would frequently douse it with brandy or bourbon and serve it thinly sliced with tea throughout the year. I must admit it got better all the time. Could you use all dried fruit? Myself I am not crazy about candied fruit. Thank you for bringing this to FF.

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    1. Hello Liz,thats what I did too, although I am not yet a grandmother..ha ha ha! It does get better and it can last up to two years. Of course, I think dried fruits is also good..but I also think you must add sugar or honey.Happy New Year

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  8. Your fruit cake looks so colourful and pretty - and so delicious too! Happy New Year, Mareliz. I wish you and yours a healthy, happy and peaceful year ahead! Thank you so much for sharing, and for being a part of the Hearth and Soul Link Party. Hope to see you at the first Hearth and Soul Link Party of 2019 on 7th January.

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    1. Thank you April for the kind words. I am proud of this cake. It never fails to amaze my friends every year and in fact they look forward to it. Happy new Year and have a lovely week ahead.

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