I have always wondered why fruit cake gets the bad rap..there seems to be even a tradition where this fruit cake gets passed around from family to family. Unlike many, I genuinely like fruit cake with the omission of pecans.
So why do fruit cakes have a tarnished reputation? Is it the overwhelming smell of spices or the saturation of fruit peels or its dry texture? Whatever the answer may be, I am of the opinion that if a moderate amount of the "much maligned" spices and peels are used and if the ingredients are given a TLC then they should turn out wonderful. So I tested out my theory on New year's eve. Yeah, baked one as a dessert for New year's lunch and believe it or not, I had to save a chunk from my family to take a picture for this blog post. The fruit cake wasn't dry or cloyed with "bleh" ingredients..In fact it turned out to be a well-respected cake that can be made all year round. FYI, This Boiled fruit cake recipe doesn't have alcohol and doesn't involve a lengthy process. The base recipe was from Joy Of Baking and the glaze was a poor adaptation of Katie Lee's Buttermilk Glaze. Most of you know I am not much of a glaze/Icing fan.
Ingredients:
So why do fruit cakes have a tarnished reputation? Is it the overwhelming smell of spices or the saturation of fruit peels or its dry texture? Whatever the answer may be, I am of the opinion that if a moderate amount of the "much maligned" spices and peels are used and if the ingredients are given a TLC then they should turn out wonderful. So I tested out my theory on New year's eve. Yeah, baked one as a dessert for New year's lunch and believe it or not, I had to save a chunk from my family to take a picture for this blog post. The fruit cake wasn't dry or cloyed with "bleh" ingredients..In fact it turned out to be a well-respected cake that can be made all year round. FYI, This Boiled fruit cake recipe doesn't have alcohol and doesn't involve a lengthy process. The base recipe was from Joy Of Baking and the glaze was a poor adaptation of Katie Lee's Buttermilk Glaze. Most of you know I am not much of a glaze/Icing fan.
Ingredients:
- 3 Cups King Arthur All-Purpose Flour
- 1 Stick(8 Tbsp) Unsalted Butter, at room temperature
- 1 Cup Candied and Chopped Mixed Peel
- 1-1/8 Cups Craisins + Golden Raisins + Dark Raisins mixture
- 2 Cups Dark Brown Sugar, packed
- 2 Cups Hot Water
- 3/4 Tsp Ground Cinnamon
- 1 Tsp All-Spice
- 1-1/4 Tsp Ground Ginger
- 3 Large eggs, slightly beaten
- 2 Tsp Vanilla Extract
- 2 Tsp Baking Soda
- 1/2 Tsp Salt
- 1/2 Cup Sugar
- 2 Tbsp Buttermilk
- 2 Tbsp Unsalted Butter
- 1/2 Tsp Vanilla Extract
- 1 Tbsp Maple Syrup
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Grease a 10" Bundt pan with a little butter and dust with little flour. Set aside.
- Mix the hot water, sugar, butter, ground spices and craisins-raisins mixture.
- Now put the pan on the stove and bring to a boil for five minutes. Switch off the stove and cool it for at-least 15 minutes. It should be lukewarm.
- Sift the flour, salt and baking soda together.
- Add the flour mixture to the lukewarm sugar-dry fruit mixture in small batches and incorporate.
- Add the lightly beaten eggs, vanilla extract to the above mixture and stir in the chopped candied peel.
- Pour the mixture into the prepared bundt pan.
- Bake for 50-55 minutes or until the toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Invert it to a cooling rack/plate and cool completely.Cover and store for at-least a day prior to serving.
- Glazing the cake(entirely optional): In a saucepan, combine all the ingredients and bring to a low boil, stirring until the sugar is dissolved(2-3 minutes). Prick the cake with a toothpick on the top and pour over the cake. Collect drippings and spoon over the cake again.
- Cut and serve.
I think it sounds wonderful! I'd eat it up for sure!
ReplyDeletewow this looks perfect i love a good fruit cake
ReplyDeleteInteresting. That cake looks beautiful and really delicious!
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Rosa
ur fruit cake looks awesome tho!...love all the fruits which went in there!
ReplyDeletei love fruit cakes..made a similar one for new year..easy to make and does not involve alcohol and presoaking.. check it out if possible
ReplyDeletehttp://www.creativesaga.com/2011/01/happy-2011-with-eggless-fruit-and-nut.html
Love the fruit cake...delicious!!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely yumm yumm Cl.. the texture is damn tempting.
ReplyDeleteHi Lassie
ReplyDeleteCake is so inviting. Can I get one slice? :)
Deepa
Hamaree Rasoi
The cake looks so moist and fruity! Like the boiling part in it.
ReplyDeleteLite Bite
Looks delish ..yum
ReplyDeleteVery moist and pretty. I like fruitcake, too. I suspect it's the commercially compressed blocks of hard, cheap peels mixed with hard cheap rum that ruin the experience for most.
ReplyDeleteA bundt classic, however, with plenty of cake crumb to munch on, is another story entirely. : }
wow!!!! looks perfect. bookmarked!!!
ReplyDeleteஅட்டகாசமான கேக்,சூப்பர்ர்!! இனிய பொங்கல் வாழ்த்துக்கள் கூல்!!
ReplyDeleteoh that looks os soft and moist Perfect :)
ReplyDeleteCake looks damn pretty and fabulous..
ReplyDeleteCake looks absolutely beautiful,spongy and yummy..
ReplyDeleteUS Masala
Looks and sounds absolutely outstanding x
ReplyDeleteI like fruit cake too... your recipe looks good... nice pics
ReplyDeleteFruit cake definitely has a TON of potential and you've really done it justice here! Delicious.
ReplyDeleteDear Lassie
ReplyDeleteI love this cake. Haven't eaten for quite some time. Very well presented
Have a nice day