Friday, January 8, 2010

Rich Christmas Fruit Cake for a new beginning

Dear All,

Wishing you all a very Happy and Prosperous New Year !!!

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Christmas and New Year's Eve are definately not complete with a fruit cake. We know its christmas when the market is floaded with various types of fruit and dundee cakes, christmas trees and decorations. We dont really celebrate christmas but i love the season as it gives me a reason to bake! This was the first time I  made a fruit cake at home and definately not the last. I followed Raaga's recipe as a base and I absolutely loved the results! Cake turned out to be rich, moist and full of flavors!
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I totally agree with Divya that the recipe is a keeper! I loved it for its simplicity and hassle free making. I didnt even dust the soaked dry fruits with flour but still the dry fruits got distributed evenly in the cake batter without sinking to the bottom. I used a combination of orange juice and rum for soaking my dry fruits as i wasnt keen on using only rum as this was the first time I was using alcohol in my cooking.

A very interested incident happened when i set out to buy Rum for my fruit cake. Here in india it is not very common to use Rum or Wine in cooking nor its common to find a girl standing in a liquor shop buying Rum!!! This was the first time i ever visited a liquor shop in my whole life. It was 31st dec, new years eve and the liquor shop was jam packed with men, as soon as i entered the shop all heads turned around in my direction as if they saw a ghost! Ignoring all glares i asked the person at the counter for some cooking rum, i must say the expression on his face was somewhere between shocked  and confused. Below is the conversation I had in 5 to 7 mins i spent in the liquor store, I hope you enjoy reading it :-)

Me: Can i get some cooking Rum pls? (trying to sound at ease)
He: Cooking...errrr what? (Confused)
Me: Rum...which can be used in cooking and baking...(flashing a smile)
He: (even more confused) Just a moment , I will be back.
(He went and consulted the owner of the shop , who looked like a stuffed teddy bear in denim jeans and a shirt which was specially stiched to fit him)
Owner: Yes how can i help you?
Me: I need rum which can be used in cooking.
Owner: (Surpirsed...shocked..cant really explain his expression) Oh..ok (talking to the other person)...Please get the XYZ rum bottle from up.
(I was getting extremely impatient after all I wasnt used to the idea of people staring at me as if I am an ET. After 2 mins I saw this big bottle of rum which i figured will go on for another decade)
Me: Oh this is very big bottle, can i get the smallest one available?
Owner: Errrr....Sure, 250 ml is ok?
Me: Perfect!!!

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Recipe Source: Raaga
Pls Note: I have made few changes to the original recipe

Ingredients:
2 cups all purpose flour (300 gms)
1 cup dry fruits (raisins, dates, sultanas, currants, prunes)
1/2 cup mix  nuts (cashews, almonds, walnuts)
1/2 cup tuttu frutti
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp cinnamon powder
1/4 tsp nutmeg powder
1/4 tsp clove powder
1/2 cup softened unsalted butter
1 cup light brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla essence
4 eggs
1 cup orange juice
3 tbsp rum (optional)

For Caramel:
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup boiling water

Procedure:

  • Soak the dry fruits, tutti frutti along with with cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg powder in orange juice and rum anywhere between 24 hours to 1 year. I soaked dry fruits for 2 days. Do stir the jar once a day.


  • On the day of making the cake, start by first making the caramel. In a heavy bottom pan, heat the sugar in a slow flame. The sugar will began to melt, stir this mixture slowly until all the sugar is melted and caramel is formed. When all the sugar crystals have been melted, add in boiling water and stir in to form smooth caramel syrup. Be very careful when adding boiling water as it will splutter a lot. Cool this mixture completely before using in the cake.


  • Sift the flour along with baking powder and keep it aside.


  • In a mixing bowl, beat together brown sugar and butter until light and fluffly. Slowly add in one egg at a time and beat well. Add in vanilla essence, dry fruits, flour and caramel mixture turn by turn. Mixing properly each time.


  • Grease & line 2 loaf tins and bake the cake at 180 degrees C for 40 to 45 mins. Do a tooth pick test to confirm.


  • Try storing the cake a week in the fridge wrapped in foil or cling film. This cake ages beautifully.

Rich Christmas Fruit Cake is off to Cake N Cookies event by Mahima and to Sara's Cakes N Cookies event.
This cake is also off to Divya's Show Me Your Cake event.



76 comments:

  1. Hey Parita,

    The cake looks delicious - perfect way to begin the year! Wishes to you!

    I loved the story of you at the wine shop. I'm trying to picture it and its too funny! I'm glad you got the 250 ml bottle - do you have any left over - or was it a great new year's party! LOL!

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  2. Funny reading the incident....Flavourful cake!

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  3. Hi Parita, the cake looks super moist. I can understnad how you must have felt in those 6-7 mins, bying the rum.

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  4. haha that so funny Parita, can guess how hard it would been for u in front all those curious heads, Btw cake looks fantastic and delicious, prefect cake for starting this New year..

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  5. What a great fruit cake! I need a large slice of it to disperse the chill.

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  6. Looks really rich and nutty...I love these kind of cakes..

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  7. thats wonderful fruit cake for christmas...and looks perfect!!

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  8. LOL! That's funny. Oh well! There's always a first time for somethingr! And BTW, the rich fruit cake looks kewl and I feel like having some!

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  9. cake looks jabardast and I can imagine how the people in the liquor shop might have felt seeing you in their teritory.

    Firangi bharat chodo, sorry liquor shop... :)

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  10. Awesome cake! I enjoyed the conversation at the wine shop .I am from India,so I can imagine how you would have felt.

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  11. Wow...that's an awesome cake...love to try it....

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  12. Hey Parita,

    The cake looks simply delicious:) A great start to the new year!
    The Conversation at the liqour shop is indeed very funny:)
    Have a great day and a wonderful 2010:)
    Cheers,
    Rachana

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  13. Thats a lovely story about buying Rum! Imagine selling you a huge bottle of rum! Nice!
    Lovely fruit cake - perfect for any occasion...

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  14. funny story about buying rum..def people had 100s of thoughts running...btw cake looks absolutely delicious..

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  15. Happy 2010 Parita. Fruit cake looks yum, enjoy! :)

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  16. That's a beauty and your picture says it all...SINFUL LOL!!!

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  17. Happy New year dea..!!! Cake looks so Elegant, divine and yummy!!!

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  18. Ha ha i loved reading the incident. When we were in India I am the one standing in the que for the boose ( in kerala there is a huge que) and I will be the one female there.
    Beautiful cake.

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  19. My favourite cake very spongy and delicious.

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  20. Your cake has come out perfect!!

    Funny incident. But really that's the scene in India...hope it will change soon.

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  21. My all time fav!!! I tried this last month and was a super disaster! Good Job girl, you got it perfect!

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  22. enjoyed reading the conversation!!LOL!!I cud imagine u'r plight:)
    Love the dimples in the fruitcake..Feel like grabbing the loaf

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  23. I can imagine how the guys must have stared at that wine shop :) :) The cake sounds delicious ! Happy New Year !!
    I tried a few recipes from your blogs - they've turned out so good !

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  24. Hi Parita,
    How are you? Really miss you.
    Nice fruit cake :)

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  25. I really enjoyed reading about the incicident happened to you in liqour store...Commenting about the owner in jeans Makes me laugh...

    I love homemade fruit cake...Looks great..

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  26. Had a good laugh reading ur story..hi hi
    Cakes look perfect..perfectly baked and presented.

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  27. Looks fantastic, oh my i can imagine the expression on those faces when you went to the wine shop.

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  28. awesome fruit cake and awesome post! i can totally imagine the incident:)
    i think if i have to get liquor, my dad will say whats wrong with you, dad-in-law will be like what is rum( my hubby will respond, dad it is fruit juice ;)), my hubby and bro will be like.. let us get some for you(read "and more for ourself") :D

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  29. Definitely a seducing cake.The chaos caused in the liquor shop was hilarious,you are such a daring person parita.It has paid off well dear.Lovely cake.

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  30. such a wonderful cake Parita!! n funny story..can imagine how u must have felt.

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  31. Hey Parita, fun to read about the incident...hehehe..wish you a happy new year..the cake looks wonderful!

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  32. Hey Parita, fun to read about the incident...hehehe..wish you a happy new year..the cake looks wonderful!

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  33. That was a great read!The cake is simply superb, Parita

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  34. I imagine in wine shop buying the Rum bottle :) I always found very hard to get a small bottle of Rum, I was little shy to ask My friends who have a big bottle! I use the extract!
    That looks quiet eyecatching ur cake :)

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  35. Your story narration had me laughing so much ,good one.The cake looks lovely.

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  36. The story narration absolutely made me to laugh for some time.. I can imagine how it will be.. He he.. thats really interesting to read. By the way the cake looks so perfect and yumm. Wish You Happy New Year Dear!!!!!!

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  37. The story narration absolutely made me to laugh for some time.. I can imagine how it will be.. He he.. thats really interesting to read. By the way the cake looks so perfect and yumm. Wish You Happy New Year Dear!!!!!!

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  38. With the fruit and nuts, this sounds like a lovely cake for the New Year! Happy New Year to you and yours, Parita!

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  39. cake looks perfect..i wish i could see a picture of the sliced cake..good effort to get the rum haha!!!

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  40. Delicious cake parita, Happy New Year!

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  41. very interesting read abt your experience at the liquor store:) now coming to the recipe...it looks super easy...I have never baked fruit cake, looks like now I can bake one !

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  42. That's a lovely gift wrap, and the incident is so sunny, I remember when i used to take my son to the Barber shop which was next to a wine shop, I would stand outside waiting for him!!, and people used to stare at me, thinking what's wrong with her, the first two times the shop keeper if i needed any help, after he came to know why I stand there, he used to give a smile and continue with his work!!, I thought of baking a christmas cake stocked all the ingredients needed minus rum, but not yet done!!

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  43. wow, this fruitcake looks just fantastic! Wish you a very happy new year, Parita! though if you start a new year with such deliciouness, I am sure it is guaranteed to be a scrumptious new year filled with great recipes (which I am looking forward to!) :)

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  44. Yumm I love fruitcake, this one looks delicious! Great stroy too, though is there anything called cooking rum specifically? I usually use normal cheap rum, and that's what I thought was normal!

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  45. hilarious conversation parita.i totally cud picturise the glares from surrounding men. that said, the cake looks yummy

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  46. Lovely cake..pplease cut a piece for me as well

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  47. i would love to see the slice of this cake, it looks so rich & purrfect...

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  48. LOL gal.. I can imagine how surprising it wud have been for the men...! Btw, the cake looks absolutely fab!! :)

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  49. Hai Pari..i was thinking after that ginger bread cottage, you started living there...didn see any beautiful posts after that.. ;)
    this cake looks so rich and delicious.. :)

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  50. Dear Pari, I would like to share Kreative blogger award with you. Please collect it from my blog!!

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  51. Fruit Cake looks absolutely yumm..still drooling over that pic..slurrp!

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  52. hahahaha, I enjoyed reading the rum buying anecdote, hihihihi, I understand!!!you could have sent someone (a man) to buy it :):) as it is not very common to see a lady at the liquor shops..

    the cake looks perfect and delicious!!! happy New Year to you too !!!!

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  53. Wow Delicious fruit cake.Parcel please.Funny & nice experience.I can imagine how u must have felt

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  54. That is hilarious..Love fruit cake..:-)

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  55. that a cute pretty cake.. looks so good!

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  56. fruit cake is my favorite cake and I did not bake one this year. I do not add the turri frutti to mine as I don't see them often here. I remember the bright colors back in India. Your cake looks so tempting.

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  57. wow..this looks so good..nice and moist...

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  58. Indeed looks sinful,pretty presentation!

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  59. Lovely cake Parita, I wish you all the best for 2010. :-)

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  60. Wow.. buddy the cake looks just too awesome.. I badly want a bite right away.. I am a mad fan of plum cakes and fruit cakes.. :)

    And your experience shopping rum sounds funny.. and I am sure I would get worse stares here in Chennai.. I still remember the look on the super marker helpers face when I asked him for brown sugar ;) ha ha ha..

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  61. Wonderful Parita as always. The cake looks so very exotic and delicious.

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  62. Hi
    I could not stop laughing for Rum incident and I liked the way you have narrated it.
    Lovely cake.

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  63. Hey I am here the first time and really like it. the cake looks gorgeous and though past christmas time encourages me to bake one.

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  64. Hehehe...it must be funny being the only girl among hordes of men :) The cake looks yummy and delicous! Fruit cakes seems perfect for Christmas season :)

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  65. enjoyed reading your post... :) delicious looking cake!

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  66. That's an great looking fruit cake Parita! Happy 2010!!

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  67. Cake looks Awesome,Nice write up too.

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  68. hey Parita, looks like I missed wishing you for the New Year. The cake looks good. Happy Sankranti to you.

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  69. nice post...beautiful picture...

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  70. That looks perfect! I LOVE fruitcake and have never been able to let it age since we almost always finish it in a few days :)

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  71. This looks so yummy and tasty... i can easily understand the amount of hard work you have put into it. Keep up the good work dear..wishing you a prosperous new year as well !! may all your dreams come true..!!

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  72. The cake looks yumm parita.. Cant really imagine the situation of being a wine shop asking for cooking rum.. Your passion for baking has made you take a real daring step (in india)...Happy new year to u and ur family!

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