EGGLESS CHRISTMAS FRUIT CAKE / PLUM CAKE

First of all I wish you all MERRY CHRISTMAS from me and my family. Today I am going to share the recipe of Christmas cake with you all. When it comes to Christmas festivities nothing can replace the need for a classic Christmas cake. Every year I used to bring a ready made cake, but this year I searched recipes on google and finally found this recipe which can be made with rum or without rum. It’s my long time wish to try Christmas special fruit cake / plum cake recipe as it is my daughter’s favourite cake. My elder daughter love the Christmas cake, it’s like her most favourite cake among all the flavours of cake. Every year she wait for Christmas only for this moist, soft and delectable Christmas cake only.  This is my very first try but it came out really well, soft and spongy.  Eggless mixed dry fruits cake made specially for Christmas which is light and soft and very easy recipe. So this Christmas learn how to make the Xmas special cake in the comfort of your kitchen and treat your family and loved ones with this lovely HOMEMADE EGGLESS CHRISTMAS FRUIT CAKE.  

INGREDIENTS:

1 ½ Cups Plain Flour

1 teaspoon Baking Powder

½ teaspoon Baking Soda

1 ½ teaspoon Cocoa Powder

½ teaspoon Cinnamon Powder

½ teaspoon Nutmeg Powder

½ Cup Soft Butter

¾ Cup Condensed Milk

½ teaspoon Vanilla Essence

½ Cup Soft Butter

2 teaspoon Orange Rind

1 Cup Chopped Nuts [ almonds, cashews and walnuts]

For Soaking Dry Fruits:

½ + 4-5 tablespoon  Rum [ see notes]

2 tablespoon Raisins

2 tablespoon Black Raisins

¼ Cup Tutti Frutti

2 tablespoon Cherries

4-5 Dried Apricots

6-7 Dates, deseeded

4-5 Dried Figs

Other Ingredients:

½ Cup Sugar Syrup for brushing the cake

METHOD:

STEP 1 – Chop the dry fruits which are under title “ For Soaking Dry Fruits” roughly.

STEP 2 – In a glass bowl add rum and chopped dry fruits and mix well.

STEP 3 – Cover it and keep it aside for 24 hours.  Give a nice stir 3-4 times.

How to proceed:

STEP 1 – Pre-heat the oven at 180 degree C for 10 minutes. Grease the cake tin with butter / oil and line it with butter paper. Keep it aside.

STEP 2 - In a big mixing bowl,  add soften butter and condensed milk and beat it with beater.

STEP 3 – Sieve all the dry ingredients- All purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, cocoa powder, cinnamon powder, nutmeg powder in another plate or bowl.

STEP 4 – Add this dry mixture in butter and condensed milk mixture in 2-3 small batches.

Mix it with light hand by cut and fold method. Don’t mix it vigorously.

STEP 5 –  Add soaked dry fruits and chopped nuts in the flour mixture.

STEP 6 - Add vanilla essence in it and give a nice stir.

STEP 7 – Now add orange rind in it and give a nice mix.

Here if you find the mixture is dry then add the extra orange juice in it as required for obtaining the desired consistency of the batter. The consistency should be be spoonable and not so thick.

STEP 8 – Transfer the batter in a lined cake tin and give a tap on a kitchen counter to set it evenly.

STEP 9 – Now bake the cake for 35-40 minutes on 180 degrees C.

After 35 minutes, check the cake by inserting a tooth pick/ long skewer in the centre. If it comes out clean, cake is baked  properly. If not then again bake for 5 minutes.

STEP 10 – Rest it in oven for 10 minutes.

STEP 11 – Remove from oven and allow it to cool down comeletely. Invert the cake tin over a plate and demould the cake and remove the butter paper.

STEP 12 – Now make a sugar syrup and brush the cake to keep it more moist. [1 teaspoon sugar+ ¼ cup water]

Slice it and serve.

It tastes better the next day with full of flavours.

NOTES: *Here for making the cake non-alcoholic I used Orange juice/ grape juics to soak the dry fruits.

              *We need ½ Cup rum/ orange juice for soaking the dry fruits and 4-5 tablespoon extra for adjusting the consistency of the batter.