Description
This Easy Moist Christmas Fruit Cake is a classic festive treat soaked with a delicious mix of dried fruits and spices, resulting in a rich, flavorful cake perfect for holiday celebrations. The fruit is soaked in apple juice or brandy for a moist texture, combined with warm spices and nuts for added depth. The optional white marzipan and fondant decoration adds a beautiful finishing touch for special occasions.
Ingredients
Scale
Fast Soaked Fruit
- 300g / 10 oz raisins
- 150g / 5 oz diced dried apricots, chopped 8 mm / 1/3″
- 75g / 2.5 oz mixed peel, diced 5 mm / 1/5″
- 150g / 5 oz glace cherries, chopped 8 mm / 1/3″
- 180g / 6 oz dates, diced 5 mm / 1/5″
- 1 cup + 2 tbsp apple juice, OR 1/3 cup brandy + 2/3 cup apple juice
Cake
- 120g / 8 tbsp unsalted butter, softened (1 US stick)
- 1 1/2 cups dark brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil (or canola, peanut, grapeseed)
- 3 tbsp molasses or golden syrup
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp allspice
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- 3 large eggs
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 2/3 cups plain flour (all-purpose flour)
- 3/4 cup walnuts, chopped (optional)
For Serving (Optional)
- 500ml / 1 pint pouring custard, homemade or store bought
White Christmas Cake Decoration (Optional)
- 250g / 8 oz “ready to roll” marzipan
- 250g / 8 oz “ready to roll” white fondant
- Cherries dusted with icing sugar
Other Decorating Options (Optional)
- Cherries or other fruit dusted with icing sugar
- Drippy white glaze (plain sweet glaze without lemon juice)
Instructions
- Soak the Fruit: Combine the raisins, dried apricots, mixed peel, glace cherries, and dates in a large bowl. Pour over the apple juice or brandy/apple juice mixture and stir well. Let this soak for several hours, ideally overnight, to plump up the fruit and infuse flavor.
- Prepare the Cake Batter: In a mixing bowl, cream together the softened unsalted butter and dark brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add the vegetable oil and molasses or golden syrup, mixing well to combine and create a smooth batter.
- Add Spices and Eggs: Stir in the salt, allspice, cinnamon, and nutmeg evenly. Beat in the eggs one at a time, ensuring each egg is fully incorporated before adding the next.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: Sift together the baking powder and plain flour, then gradually fold the flour mixture into the wet batter, mixing gently to avoid overworking the batter. Fold in the soaked fruit along with any remaining soaking juice and the chopped walnuts if using.
- Prepare the Cake Tin and Bake: Preheat the oven to 325°F (163°C). Grease and line a suitable cake tin (such as an 8-inch round or square) with baking parchment. Transfer the batter to the tin, spreading evenly. Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool the Cake: Remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool in the tin for about 20 minutes. Then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Optional Decorating: For a traditional Christmas fruit cake finish, roll out the marzipan to cover the cake evenly, followed by a layer of white fondant. Decorate with cherries dusted in icing sugar or use alternative decorations like a drippy white glaze and extra fruit. Let the decorations set before serving.
- Serve: Slice and serve the fruit cake accompanied by warm pouring custard if desired. This cake stores well and can be wrapped tightly for several weeks, allowing the flavors to deepen further.
Notes
- Soaking the fruit overnight or for several hours is crucial for a moist, flavorful cake.
- Using brandy adds traditional flavor, but apple juice is a great non-alcoholic alternative.
- You can substitute walnuts with other nuts like pecans or omit them entirely to suit preference or allergies.
- This cake improves with age; wrapping it in parchment and foil and storing in a cool place for a week or more enhances flavors.
- Marzipan and fondant decoration are optional but add a festive, classic appearance.
- Use a low and slow baking method to prevent the cake from drying out.
Keywords: Christmas fruit cake, holiday cake, soaked fruit cake, festive dessert, traditional fruitcake