Description
Indulge in the warm, comforting flavors of a classic Homemade Fruit Cake. This moist and rich cake is packed with a medley of dried fruits, nuts, and aromatic spices, perfect for the holiday season.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 4 large eggs
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 1 tablespoon molasses
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 3 cups mixed dried fruit (such as raisins, currants, chopped dates, apricots)
- 1 cup chopped nuts (walnuts or pecans)
- zest of 1 orange
- 2–3 tablespoons dark rum or brandy (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C) and prepare a 9×5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper.
- Mix wet ingredients: Cream butter and brown sugar, then add eggs one at a time. Mix in orange juice, molasses, vanilla extract, and orange zest.
- Combine dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, salt, and baking powder.
- Combine mixtures: Gradually add dry ingredients to wet mixture. Fold in dried fruit and nuts. Add rum or brandy if desired.
- Bake: Pour batter into pan and bake for 75–90 minutes. Cool before serving.
Notes
- For a richer flavor, soak dried fruit in rum or brandy overnight.
- Wrap and age fruit cake in the fridge, brushing with alcohol for enhanced taste.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 370
- Sugar: 27g
- Sodium: 160mg
- Fat: 17g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 51g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
