Description
Grandma’s classic fruitcake recipe brings generations of sweet memories together. Mediterranean dried fruits and rich spices combine perfectly, creating a nostalgic dessert you’ll cherish and share with loved ones.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
Fruit and Nuts:
- 1 cup mixed dried fruit (raisins, currants, chopped apricots)
- 1/2 cup chopped nuts (walnuts, pecans)
- 1/2 cup orange juice
Spices and Seasonings:
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Instructions
- Prepare the oven by heating to 325F (165C) and prepare a 9×5-inch loaf pan with grease and flour coating.
- In a spacious mixing bowl, whip butter and sugar until achieving a light, airy texture with soft peaks.
- Incorporate eggs individually, thoroughly blending after each addition, then introduce vanilla extract for enhanced flavor profile.
- Separately, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ground cinnamon, and nutmeg to ensure uniform distribution of dry ingredients.
- Gradually merge dry ingredient mixture into wet ingredients, stirring gently to create a smooth, consistent batter without overmixing.
- Delicately fold chopped dried fruits and nuts into the batter, ensuring even suspension throughout the mixture.
- Drizzle orange juice over the batter, gently incorporating until liquid is completely integrated without disrupting the cake’s delicate structure.
- Transfer batter into prepared loaf pan, smoothing the surface for even baking. Bake for 70-80 minutes until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Allow cake to rest in pan for 10 minutes, then carefully transfer to a wire cooling rack to complete cooling process and set final texture.
Notes
- Ensure butter is at room temperature for smooth, even creaming to achieve a lighter cake texture.
- Soak dried fruits in warm orange juice or rum beforehand to plump them up and enhance flavor depth.
- Dust chopped nuts and fruits with a little flour before adding to prevent them from sinking to the bottom during baking.
- Use a toothpick or cake tester to check doneness; it should come out clean with minimal crumbs when inserted into the center.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 75 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 24 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 44 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg