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Friday, January 14, 2011

Boiled Fruit Cake

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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:
  • 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
For the Glaze:(I halved the amount to cut a few calories. Recipe by Celeb Chef & Author Katie Lee)
  • 1/2 Cup Sugar
  • 2 Tbsp Buttermilk
  • 2 Tbsp Unsalted Butter
  • 1/2 Tsp Vanilla Extract
  • 1 Tbsp Maple Syrup
    Procedure:
    • 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.
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    20 comments:

    1. I think it sounds wonderful! I'd eat it up for sure!

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    2. Interesting. That cake looks beautiful and really delicious!

      Cheers,

      Rosa

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    3. ur fruit cake looks awesome tho!...love all the fruits which went in there!

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    4. i 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

      http://www.creativesaga.com/2011/01/happy-2011-with-eggless-fruit-and-nut.html

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    5. Absolutely yumm yumm Cl.. the texture is damn tempting.

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    6. Hi Lassie

      Cake is so inviting. Can I get one slice? :)

      Deepa
      Hamaree Rasoi

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    7. The cake looks so moist and fruity! Like the boiling part in it.

      Lite Bite

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    8. Very 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.

      A bundt classic, however, with plenty of cake crumb to munch on, is another story entirely. : }

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    9. அட்டகாசமான கேக்,சூப்பர்ர்!! இனிய பொங்கல் வாழ்த்துக்கள் கூல்!!

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    10. Cake looks absolutely beautiful,spongy and yummy..


      US Masala

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    11. I like fruit cake too... your recipe looks good... nice pics

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    12. Fruit cake definitely has a TON of potential and you've really done it justice here! Delicious.

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    13. Dear Lassie
      I love this cake. Haven't eaten for quite some time. Very well presented
      Have a nice day

      ReplyDelete

    Thanks a bunch for your valuable comments and continued support.They are very much appreciated. Yes,like "Rain on Dry Land" and like "Oasis in Desert Sand".
    XoXo, Cool Lassi(e)