Christmas Fruit Cake: A Festive Classic Recipe
Indulge in the rich and timeless flavors of a Christmas Fruit Cake, a festive classic that’s perfect for holiday celebrations. This traditional dessert is packed with dried fruits, nuts, and warm spices, making it a delightful treat for the season.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 55 minutes
- Yield: 10–12 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Cake Ingredients:
- 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 1 cup brown sugar (packed)
- 4 large eggs
- 1/4 cup molasses
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 1 1/2 cups mixed dried fruit (raisins, currants, chopped dates, dried cherries)
- 1 cup chopped nuts (walnuts or pecans)
- 1/4 cup brandy or rum (plus extra for brushing)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat the oven to 300°F. Grease and line a loaf pan or cake pan with parchment paper.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a bowl, cream butter and brown sugar until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, then mix in molasses.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Gradually add to the wet mixture, alternating with orange juice. Stir in orange zest, dried fruit, and nuts. Fold in brandy or rum.
- Bake: Pour batter into the pan and bake for 75–90 minutes. Cool, then brush with more brandy/rum. Age for best flavor.
Notes
- For a non-alcoholic version, substitute apple juice or tea for brandy.
- The cake can be made ahead and gets better with time.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 27g
- Sodium: 160mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 60mg
