Never Fail Fruit Cake Recipes

CHRISTMAS CAKE - EASY MOIST FRUIT CAKE

Steps:

• Place dried fruit and juice/brandy in a large microwavable container. Microwave 1 1/2 minutes on high or until hot.
• Stir to coat all fruit in liquid. Cover then set aside for 1 hour (to plump up/soak and cool).
• Preheat oven to 160°C / 320°F (140°C fan). Grease and line a 21 - 22 cm / 8 - 9" round cake pan with baking paper (parchment paper) (7 cm / 2.75" tall).
• Using an electric beater, beat butter and sugar until smooth and creamy (about 1 minute on speed 5).
• Add oil and molasses, beat until combined.
• Add salt, spices and baking powder - beat until incorporated.
• Add eggs, one at a time, beating until just incorporated
• Stir in the flour.
• When mostly incorporated, stir in the fruit mix (including all the extra liquid in bowl) and walnuts (if using).
• Pour into cake pan, cover with foil and bake for 3 hours 15 minutes, removing foil the last 45 minutes. Skewer inserted into middle should come out clean with no batter on it.
• Remove from oven and cool for 20 minutes before transferring to cooling rack. Cool completely before serving.
• Cake is moist and so full flavoured, it can be eaten plain. But see below for decorating and serving ideas (traditionally served with pouring custard).
• Cutting: Either cut into thin wedges, or cut cake into thin strips (2cm / 0.75" or so), then cut those strips into serving size pieces.
• Traditional White Christmas Cake (pictured in post) - Marzipan and fondant, see Decorating Note.
• Simple - pile top with fresh cherries or other fruit, dust with icing sugar (powdered sugar). Wrap a ribbon around the cake for extra touch!
• Drippy white glaze - use the glaze in this Lemon Cake recipe, but leave out the lemon juice (ie make a plain sweet white glaze). Flip cake upside down for flat surface then glaze per that recipe.
• Serving - serve with custard for a traditional experience! Either homemade custard or store bought pouring custard (jazz it up by mixing in vanilla seed paste!).

NEVER FAIL FRUIT CAKE, BARS OR COOKIES

Steps:

• 1. Fruitcake: Heat oven to 300^. Coat a 10 cup fluted baking pan with non stick cooking spray.
• 2. Stir together flour and baking soda. Combine eggs, mincemeat, condensed milk, candied fruit and nuts in a large bowl. Blend in dry ingredients. Pour into prepared pan.
• 3. Bake about 45 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean Cool 10 minutes. Remove from pan. Garnish as desired. Do not over bake.
• 4. Fruitcake Bars: Coat a 15x10-inch jelly roll pan with nonstick cooking spray. Spread batter evenly in pan. Bake 15-20 minutes. Cool. Glaze, if desired. Makes about 4 dozen bars. --- Fruitcake Cookies: Coat baking sheets with non stick cooking spray. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls, 2 inches apart onto prepared baking sheets. Bake 12 to 15 minutes, Makes about 5 1/2 dozen cookies.

NEVER FAIL APPLESAUCE SPICE CAKE

Steps:

• Sift flour, white sugar, soda, salt, baking powder, and spices into a large mixing bowl. Mix in 1/2 cup butter or margarine, buttermilk, and applesauce. Beat for 2 minutes with an electric mixer on medium speed. Beat in eggs. Fold in 3/4 cup chopped nuts. Pour batter into a greased and floured 9 x 13 inch pan.
• Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 50 minutes.
• Mix confectioners' sugar, cream cheese, and vanilla until smooth. Melt 1/4 cup butter over medium heat, and add 1 cup chopped pecans. Keep stirring until browned. Stir cooled pecans into cream cheese mixture. Frost the cooled cake.