Indulge in the delectable tradition of Christmas with our collection of exquisite keeping cakes, also known as fruitcakes. These culinary masterpieces, steeped in history and brimming with flavors, are a testament to the joy and warmth of the festive season. From the classic Christmas cake bursting with dried fruits, nuts, and spices, to the lighter and less fruity variation that caters to modern palates, our recipes offer something for every taste. Embark on a delightful journey as we explore the art of creating these timeless treats, ensuring a memorable and joyous Christmas celebration.
Let's cook with our recipes!
CHRISTMAS FRUITCAKE
It's a shame that fruitcake as a species gets such a bad rap. With its two key ingredients--rum and butter--it ought to be a hit. This recipe includes dried fruit, instead of the glowing, candied stuff we've all learned to associate with fruitcake, and is less dense and more cake-like than many fruitcake recipes. It has become a favorite of my friends and family around the holidays (even the skeptical ones), and is delicious by itself, or covered with a layer of almond paste.
Provided by Karen Uffelman
Categories Desserts Specialty Dessert Recipes Liqueur Dessert Recipes Rum
Time P20DT6h57m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- Soak cherries, mango, cranberries, currants, and citron in 1/4 cup rum for at least 24 hours. Cover tightly, and store at room temperature.
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Butter a 6x3-inch round pan or loaf pan and line it with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, cream together butter and brown sugar until fluffy. Beat in egg. Whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon; mix into butter and sugar in three batches, alternating with molasses and milk. Stir in soaked fruit and chopped nuts. Scrape batter into prepared pan.
- Bake in preheated oven for 40 to 45 minutes. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then sprinkle with 2 tablespoons rum.
- Cut out one piece parchment paper and one piece cheesecloth, each large enough to wrap around the cake. Moisten cheesecloth with 1 tablespoon rum. Arrange cheesecloth on top of parchment paper, and unmold cake onto it. Sprinkle top and sides of cake with remaining rum. Wrap the cheesecloth closely to the surface of the cake, then wrap with paper. Place in an airtight tin, and age for at least 10 weeks. If storing longer, douse with additional rum for every 10 weeks of storage.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 302.3 calories, Carbohydrate 33.3 g, Cholesterol 54.1 mg, Fat 14.8 g, Fiber 1.3 g, Protein 2.5 g, SaturatedFat 7.8 g, Sodium 202.7 mg, Sugar 20.5 g
CHRISTMAS KEEPING CAKE (FRUITCAKE-LIKE, LESS FRUIT)
From "The Spirit of Christmas Book III," Leisure arts, 1989. Made it for 2009 Christmas party-delicious, and not too "fruity." People who don't like fruitcake loved it. It has the most delicious scent when you unwrap it that remains until the last slice is eaten. I believe it took mine no more than 2 hours to bake. Keep an eye on it, so the cake won't dry.
Provided by EURrosa1
Categories Winter
Time 3h
Yield 1 cake, 12-14 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Cream butter and sugar. Beat in egg yolks until fluffy.
- Dissolve baking soda in buttermilk; beat it into eggs.
- Combine 2 1/2 cups flour with spices. Add to egg mixture, alternately with jam.
- Beat egg whites until almost stiff and fold into batter.
- Combine remaining flour with pecans, raisins and dates; fold into batter.
- Pour into well-greased and floured 10" tube pan. (I used bundt pan.). Bake at 300 F 3 to 3 1/3 hours (depends on oven). (NOTE: I believe it took mine no more than 2 hours to bake.) Place on wire rack until completely cool.
- Soak cheesecloth in liquor and wrap cake. Wrap with foil. Brush with more liquor every week, closing tight with foil. Let age 4-6 weeks in cool place.
CHRISTMAS FRUITCAKE
Though some people love it and other people hate it, fruitcake is the ultimate homemade Christmas food gift. Since it is nothing more than fruits and nuts in an egg-flour-butter batter, you can vary the proportions to suit your taste.
Provided by Nancy Harmon Jenkins
Categories dessert
Time 3h
Yield 4 cakes
Number Of Ingredients 22
Steps:
- Combine all fruits, preserves, vanilla and liquor in a large bowl. Mix well, cover with plastic wrap and store in a cool place overnight.
- Add hazelnuts, coconut and pecans to the fruits, mix well and set aside. Butter and flour four loaf pans. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees.
- Make batter in two batches for greater ease of working. In a large bowl, cream 1 cup of butter until it is light and fluffy. Beat in 1 cup of brown sugar, a little at a time. Beating continuously, add 6 eggs, one at a time.
- Mix flour and spices together and sift half the mixture over batter. Fold together well.
- Mix half the fruits and nuts into batter and turn into two loaf pans. For second batch, repeat the last three steps with remaining ingredients.
- Cover loaf pans with aluminum foil and place in preheated oven. Bake for 2 hours. Remove foil and bake 40 minutes longer.
- Remove cakes from oven, run a knife around edges of the pans and turn upside down on a cake rack. Leave to cool. When cakes are thoroughly cool, wrap well in cheesecloth and pour liquor on top, bottom and sides until cheesecloth is soaked. Wrap each cake in several layers of aluminum foil to protect them from the air. They are ready to eat in two to three weeks, although the longer they're kept the better they are. Open every few weeks and add more liquor if cheesecloth seems dry.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 621, UnsaturatedFat 13 grams, Carbohydrate 79 grams, Fat 31 grams, Fiber 4 grams, Protein 8 grams, SaturatedFat 15 grams, Sodium 67 milligrams, Sugar 49 grams, TransFat 1 gram
Tips:
- For a moist and flavorful Christmas cake, start with high-quality dried fruits. Look for plump, juicy fruits that are free from blemishes.
- Soak the dried fruits in a mixture of tea, brandy, and orange juice overnight or for at least 8 hours. This will help to plump them up and infuse them with flavor.
- Use a combination of light and dark brown sugar to give the cake a rich and complex flavor.
- Don't overmix the batter. Overmixing can make the cake tough.
- Bake the cake at a low temperature for a long period of time. This will help to ensure that the cake cooks evenly and doesn't dry out.
- Wrap the cake tightly in plastic wrap and store it in a cool, dark place for at least 2 weeks before serving. This will allow the flavors to develop and mature.
Conclusion:
With a little planning and effort, you can make a delicious and festive Christmas cake that will be enjoyed by family and friends. The tips and tricks in this article will help you create a cake that is moist, flavorful, and sure to impress.
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