Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Christmas FruitCake

The festive season of Christmas is around, people have decorated their houses with lovely light decorations, shops and malls have started to play Christmas songs, all the food blog afficianados have started hosting festive events, and everyone over here is preparing cakes, cookies, puddings, pastries and pies. Also, mood is more than cheerful in town as Steelers are performing so well this season.  
I thought that making a cake and posting a recipe for it would be very fitting on such an occasion. The cake I present over here is ideal for gift-giving, too. 
Hope you will enjoy this... 

        
                            
Ingredients:
3 cups whole-wheat bread flour
1 tbsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1/8 tsp salt
1/2 cup each of dates, crystallized ginger, dried apricots, dried pineapples, pecans, almonds, walnuts, pistachios (chopped)
3/4 cup raisins
3/4 cup cranberries
10-12 maraschino cherries
1/2 tsp each ground cinnamon, cloves, allspice, nutmeg
1 tsp lemon zest
1 tsp orange zest
1 1/2 cups applesauce
2/3 cup oil
1 cup molasses ( use 3/4 cup if you the dried fruits are sweetened)
1/8 cup vinegar

Method:
  • Preheat the oven to 300F. Grease and flour a bundt pan or two 9-inch round pans.
  • Mix flour, baking powder, soda, salt and spices in a large mixing bowl until well combined. Add all the fruits and nuts to the flour mixture and toss until well coated.
  • Blend together the applesauce, oil, molasses and vinegar. Working quickly, mix the wet ingredients into the dry, stirring only until mixed thoroughly. Pour the batter into the pan and place in the oven.
  • Bake for about 1 hour for round pans or 1 1/2 hours for bundt pan. Let it cool completely.
  • Garnish with cherries, pecans if desired. It slices more easily if made a day or two in advance. 
I would like to send this cake over to Purva's Christmas Feast Event, Happy Cook's Homemade Christmas Gift Event, Tasty Treat's Santa's Holiday Challange and Vandana's Baking for Beginners Event.
             

Enjoy!!!

11 comments:

Finla said...

Thje christmas cakelooks so delicious. I can imagine the wonderful taste. Wish i had a slice with my coffee.Thankyou for sending this to my event.
I think it is the first time i am comming to your blog.

lubnakarim06 said...

Wow looks scrummy. Wish i could taste it :-)

Purva Desai said...

Cake looks rich with dry fruits and a perfect christmas dessert..
Thanks for lovely christmas entry for the event...

Dhara said...

looks cool.............well shall try smday!!!! :)

Usha said...

Looks scrumptious, love how you have used healthier alternatives in your cake like ww bread flour and molasses instead of sugar....

vidhas said...

Cake looks delcious. In India we get plum cakes i love that.

Srikitchen said...

looks delicious and yum!
Join in the EFM - SAVOURIES SERIES going in my blog!

Yasmeen said...

Looks very festive,perfect for the holiday season:)

Adlak's tiny world said...

Perfect feast on festive days.. feel like to have a bite right now.

Something waiting for u in my blog, check out dear.

Malar Gandhi said...

Everyone posted this x-mass cake, all are inviting....can I have a bite, dear!!!

anudivya said...

This is a beauty! Love that you used whole wheat bread flour... I was wondering if the raisins/fruits would be better if soaked in rum/rum extract? I wanted to make one, and wanted to know how the traditional one is made... just curious.