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xmas cake recipe

Xmas Cake

Sapana Behl
Make this classic Christmas fruit cake with raisins, sultanas, currants, and candied peel. Perfectly spiced, moist, and dusted with icing sugar, this festive cake is a holiday favorite!
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course Cakes
Cuisine Indian
Servings 6 People

Ingredients
  

  • 1 ½ all purpose flour
  • ½ cup raisins
  • ½ cup currants
  • ½ cup sultanas
  • ½ cup candied fruit peel
  • ¼ cup glazed cherries
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon allspice
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • ½ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ½ cup oil
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1 cup orange juice
  • 1 teaspoon orange zest
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1 cup water
  • Icing sugar for dusting

Instructions
 

  • Soak the raisins, sultanas, currants and candied peels in orange juice overnight.
  • Preheat oven to 325 °F and line a 8" cake pan with parchment paper.
  • In a mixing bowl sift together flour, baking powder, salt, allspice, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cloves.
  • In another bowl add sugar and oil and whisk together for 2 minutes. Stir in orange and lemon zest.
  • Add hot water to the sugar-oil mixture and stir in soaked fruits, mix well.
  • Add the flours into the wet mixture and gently fold in all the ingredients.
  • Pour the batter into the prepared pans.
  • Bake in preheated oven for about 40 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the oven comes out clean.
  • Cover the cake with aluminium foil at the end of baking.
  • Remove the cake from the oven and cool it on a wire rack.
  • Dust with icing sugar, slice and serve.

Notes

  • Fruit Preparation
    • Use a mix of raisins, sultanas, chopped dates, and soft dried apricots for natural sweetness.
    • Soak fruits in fruit juice (like orange or apple) or warm water for a few hours or overnight for extra moisture. Avoid alcohol for kids.
  • Spices
    • Keep spices mild: cinnamon, nutmeg, and a pinch of allspice work well. Avoid overly strong flavors.
  • Sweeteners
    • Use natural sweeteners like honey, maple syrup, or brown sugar instead of refined sugar if desired.
  • Texture
    • A soft, moist cake works best for kids. Don’t overbake; check with a skewer—it should come out clean but the cake still soft.
  • Mixing Tips
    • Fold in fruits gently to prevent them from sinking to the bottom.
    • Lightly flour the fruits before adding to batter for more even distribution.
  • Decoration Ideas
    • Dust with icing sugar or decorate with colorful candied fruits or a light drizzle of glaze.
    • Avoid nuts if catering to young children to reduce choking hazards.
  • Storage
    • Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.
    • For longer freshness, refrigerate or freeze slices individually.
  • Serving Suggestions
    • Serve with a dollop of whipped cream, yogurt, or a drizzle of fruit syrup for extra fun.
Tried this recipe?Mention @Behlsapana or tag #cookingwithsapana!