Sunday, December 20, 2020

Eggless Christmas Fruit Cake | Kerala Plum Cake Eggless


Every December I look forward to baking THE fruit cake of the year.I don't bake fruit cakes otherwise,only during Christmas time.That gives it a special charm no?I have been baking fruit cakes for the past few years and even though we do get good quality fruit cakes here and in Kerala,the joy of baking a home style fruit cake is something so special.Especially because we get to choose what to add in the cake and soak it according to our liking and then finally bake it and wait for it to mature a bit before consuming.Ah,the whole process is so fulfilling.


Personally we do not like the strong flavor of rum soaked fruits so I soak it for a shorter duration which gives me boozy fruits but not with the strong aftertaste.Last year I baked this cake and it was so good.Usually fruit cakes are slightly dense but the addition of beaten egg whites gives it the sponge texture.


I will be baking the same cake this year too,but wanted to post a new recipe here on the blog so zeroed in on this one as this recipe too is by
Lekshmi Nair,whose recipe is what I followed last year.I liked the simplicity of this cake,minimal ingredients and tastes absolutely delicious.If you do not like soaking fruits in alcohol,you could do the same in orange juice or grape juice.Make sure to keep the soaked fruits refrigerated though.Plus soak it for maximum 24 hours not more than that.



Though you can consume the cake straight away once cooled,I would strongly recommend storing it overnight(or at least 6-8 hours) before cutting as it would help the flavors settle.

I really hope you try this recipe :)

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year :)


Eggless Christmas Fruit Cake | Kerala Plum Cake Eggless

Ingredients

Maida - 1 1/4 cups
Baking powder - 1/2 tsp
Baking soda - 1/2 tsp
Salt - a pinch
Caramel syrup - 1/4 cup*
Milkmaid - 1/4 cup
Curd - 1/4 cup
Brown sugar - 1/4 cup
Oil - 1/4 cup
Soaked fruit and nuts - 1 1/4 cup**
Vanilla extract - a few drops
Almond/Orange extract - a few drops
Lemon juice - 1 1/2 tsp


*Caramel syrup

Sugar - 1/2 cup
Hot water - 1/2 cup

Heat sugar in a pan till it caramelizes well.Add hot water and let it cook for 3-5 minutes on low flame till it thickens.Remove from the pan and let it cool down completely.


**Soaked fruits and nuts

You can use any combination of fruits and nuts.I have used

*Black Currants
*Sultanas
*Dates
*Tutty Frooti
*Cranberries
*Dried Pineapple
*Mixed dry fruits
*Cashewnuts and Almonds

Soak all this together(exclude nuts if you are soaking for a longer period) along with some honey,spice powders(a combination of cardamom,clove and cinnamon),Orange marmalade and Strawberry Jam(or any jam).Use as required.

Method

Preheat oven to 180C.Grease and line a 7" round pan.
In a mixing bowl add milkmaid,curd,brown sugar and oil.
Beat well till it comes together.
Sift in flour,baking powder,baking soda and salt.
Mix well and add the cooled caramel syrup.
Fold in the dried fruits and nuts and give a good mix.
Add the extracts and lemon juice and pour the batter into the lined tin.
Bake for 40-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean.
Let the cake cool down completely.Cover it well using aluminium foil and let it rest for a few hours.
Slice and serve.

Step by Step Tutorial

Preheat oven to 180C.Grease and line a 7" round pan.
In a mixing bowl add milkmaid,curd,brown sugar and oil.
Beat well till it comes together.
Sift in flour,baking powder,baking soda and salt.
Mix well and 
add the cooled caramel syrup.
Fold in the dried fruits and nuts and give a good mix.

Add the extracts and 

lemon juice and 
pour the batter into the lined tin.
Top with some halved cashews or almonds or leave it plain.
Bake for 40-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean.
Let the cake cool down completely.Cover it well using aluminium foil and let it rest for a few hours.


Slice and serve.

5 comments :

  1. Hi Divya. Receipe is Superb and cake is very tastey. But after baking once it was cooled ,it was in bad shape and hollow.may it was my mistake or ii don't know what went wrong. I follow the same measurement and method.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Sreema,are you sure it baked through completely?

      Delete

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Love,
Divya.

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