Christmas Fruit Cake/Plum Cake

on December 13, 2013

Christmas in my family is not complete without this traditional Fruit cake or as commonly called plum cake. (Although there are no plums used to make this cake). I soaked my fruits almost a month before, but even if you soak the fruits and nuts in rum and brandy a week before making this cake, the results are pretty boozilicious.

I have been making this cake since many Christmas and is a hit with my friends and family. The rich dark color comes from the use of brown sugar and caramel and the rum and brandy soaked fruits and nuts gives it an amazing flavour. Here is my favorite recipe to make this cake.

Ingredients

Fruits soaked in rum and brandy- 3 cups

To make caramel

Granulated sugar- 1 cup
Water- 1 cup

For the cake

All purpose flour- 2 and ½ cup
Instant coffee powder- 1tsp
Baking powder- 2tsp
Cinnamon powder- 1tsp
Clove powder- 1tsp
Cardamom powder- ½ tsp
Nutmeg powder- ½ tsp
Salt- ¼ tsp
Unsalted butter- 1 cup
Dark brown sugar- 1 and ½ cup (packed)
Eggs- 5
Vanilla extract- 2tsp
Caramel- 1 cup
Soaked fruits- 3 cups
Rum- 2tsp

Method

To make the caramel

Take sugar in a pan.
Keep the pan on heat and keep tilting it till sugar melts.
Do not use a spatula.
Keep swirling the melted sugar till it turns a dark brown color.

Method

Remove the pan from heat once the sugar has darkened.
Add water.
Be careful as it will splash.
Use a spatula and mix well.
Cook for a minute.
Remove from heat and let the caramel cool.

Method

To make the cake

Pre heat the oven to 160 degrees C.
Grease and line 2, 8 x 2 inch pans. ( You can use a single taller pan, but the baking time will vary )
Mix all purpose flour, coffee powder, baking powder, cinnamon powder, clove powder, cardamom powder, nutmeg powder and salt in a bowl.
Whisk butter and sugar in the bowl of your electric beater till light and fluffy. (Approx 5 minutes on high speed)