Christmas Plum Cake is a rich ,moist & a delicious cake enjoyed by everyone during the festive season. The flour is flavored with fresh spices ,candied fruits & nuts are soaked in orange juice. This delicous cake brings up the festive mood to the table.
It is the favourite time of the year with lots love, cheers, friends & food. finally lots of baking. Friends, family gather around to cheer, meet, savour all goodies and nothing is complete without a fresh bake.
If you are looking for the last minute recipe to bake christmas cake then this recipe is for you. It is non- alcholic, no pre soaking of dry fruits yet tastes divine , nutty and flavorful with loads of fruits and nuts. Orange juice and orange zest are the magic ingredients for a greater taste.
When i bake this cake the house is filled with rich aroma of fruity flavors and smells heavenly. Rich in fruits and nuts the cake tastes so amazing that you couldn’t stop with just a small piece.
Traditional fruit cake involves soaking the fruits and nuts in days advance, sometimes even months. It needs a lot of planning to do so. Most of the times i end up forgetting that untils few days before. I make this cake ahead of time to make it even more tastier, a day or two atleast.
INGREDIENTS TO MAKE CHRISTMAS PLUM CAKE
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- All purpose flour : All purpose flour also called as maida, if substituting with wheat flour adjust the liquid as you would for any cake.
- Spices : fresh spices like cinnamon, dry ginger, cloves , nutmeg canbe powdered or use all spice powder.
- Dried fruits : Any dried fruits as raisins, apricots, dates, currants, cranberries, prunes, tutti fruity , cranberries can be used.
- Nuts : Almonds, walnuts, cashews and pecans are mostly use. Use extra to garnish on top.
- Orange juice : Fresh squeezed orange juice is preferred over canned or boxed juice. Can be substituted with pineapple or cranberry juice or a mixture of all.
- Orange zest : This adds the fresh and tangy flavor to the cake. do not skip.
- Baking powder & baking soda : To rise the cake.
- Yogurt : Yogurt is the substitute for eggs , it keep the cake moist.
- Oil : Any neutral oil works.
HOW TO MAKE PLUM CAKE
This recipe is a quick no soak method. So in place of soaking we simmer the dry fruits in orange juice. Replace with Rum for alcholic version.
Simmer the dry fruits for 15 minutes in orange and lemon juice.
To make spice mix with fresh spices, crush an inch cinnamon stick, one cardamom, 3 cloves in to a smooth powder in a motor and pestal. Add a teaspoon of ginger powder or juice fresh ginger and add to wet ingredients.
Seive all dry ingredients together and set aside.
Combine oil and brown sugar till mixed well. Add yogurt and whisk together till creamy and no lumps.
Add orange zest and soaked fruits mixture and combine.
To this add flour in batches and combine well. Do not overmix.
Add nuts and fold toegther. Do not overmix.
Preheat Oven to 160 degree C / 320 degree F in the mean time.
Line a baking tray with parchment paper , transfer the cake batter into the cake tin. Garnish with extra fruits and nuts.
Bake for 60 – 70 minutes or more till toothpick comes out clean. Oven temperatures vary so adjust times accordingly.
WATCH CHRISTMAS PLUM CAKE RECIPE HERE
Eggless Christmas Plum Cake
Equipment
- Cake pan
- Medium Pan
- Whisk & Spatulla
Ingredients
- 1½ cup All Purpose Flour (Maida)
- ¼ tsp Cinnamon
- ⅛ tsp Ginger
- ⅛ tsp Nutmeg (or) few scapes of nutmeg
- ⅛ tsp Clove
- 1 ½ tsp Orange Zest
- 1 tsp Baking Powder
- ½ tsp Baking Soda
- ½ cup Oil
- ¾ cup Dark Brown Sugar
- 1 cup Yogurt
To Soak
- ⅔ cup Orange juice use 1/3 cup juice and 1/3 cup water also
- 1 tbsp Lemon juice
- 1 cup Tutti Frutti
- ¼ cup Dried Apricots
- ¼ cup Dried Cranberries
- ⅛ cup Raisins
- ⅛ cup Prunes or Currants (or) any dried fruits
- ⅛ cup Dates
Nuts (for folding)
- ¼ cup Almonds
- ¼ cup Cashews
- ¼ cup Pecans
- ¼ cup Walnuts
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 160 degree C / 320 F. Grease a baking tray with butter or oil and line with parchment paper
- Chop nuts and dried fruits to small pieces
- In a saucepan , add orange juice and lemon juice.
- Add dried fruits and bring to boil and turn on the heat when the fruits become plum and juicy. Let cool.
- Sieve all purpose flour, salt, spice powders, baking powder and baking soda. Set aside.
- In a bowl whisk together dark brown sugar and oil till mixed. Add yogurt and whisk till creamy and soft.
- Add the orange zest , flour. and cooked fruits and mix till the flour is combined.
- Fold nuts gently and transfer to the cake tin and bake in preheated oven for 55 - 60 minutes.
- Remove when toothpick comes out clean in the center and cool completely before slicing.
- Top with extra nuts and fruits and serve.
Looks good, I am anxious to try the recipe
Hope you will like it..
The Food Explora in me could scroll by the word cake. They are one of my favorite foods 😍. love the ingredients you use in the recipe. My tastebuds can definitely rock with them. Thanks for sharing this awesome recipe 😊.
You are welcome.