Best 4 Dried Fruit Fruitcake Recipes

FREE RANGE FRUITCAKE

Steps:

• Combine dried fruits, candied ginger and both zests. Add rum and macerate overnight, or microwave for 5 minutes to re-hydrate fruit.
• Place fruit and liquid in a non-reactive pot with the sugar, butter, apple juice and spices. Bring mixture to a boil stirring often, then reduce heat and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat and cool for at least 15 minutes. (Batter can be completed up to this point, then covered and refrigerated for up to 2 days. Bring to room temperature before completing cake.)
• Heat oven to 325 degrees.
• Combine dry ingredients and sift into fruit mixture. Quickly bring batter together with a large wooden spoon, then stir in eggs one at a time until completely integrated, then fold in nuts. Spoon into a 10-inch non-stick loaf pan and bake for 1 hour. Check for doneness by inserting toothpick into the middle of the cake. If it comes out clean, it's done. If not, bake another 10 minutes, and check again.
• Remove cake from oven and place on cooling rack or trivet. Baste or spritz top with brandy and allow to cool completely before turning out from pan.
• When cake is completely cooled, seal in a tight sealing, food safe container. Every 2 to 3 days, feel the cake and if dry, spritz with brandy. The cake's flavor will enhance considerably over the next two weeks. If you decide to give the cake as a gift, be sure to tell the recipient that they are very lucky indeed.

DRIED FRUIT FRUITCAKE

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine first 9 ingredients. Bring to a boil over medium high heat, then reduce to low & cook 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat & cool to room temperature.
• Preheat oven to 275 degrees F, then grease & flour a 12-cup Bundt pan.
• In a large bowl, combine the next 6 ingredients which are dry, then stir in the lightly beaten eggs, the almond extract, and the cooled fruit mixture, & combine well.
• Spoon batter into the prepared Bundt pan & bake for at least 2 hours & 20 minutes. Toothpick in the center should come out clean.
• Cool in the pan on a wire rack for 20 minutes, then unmold onto a serving plate & cool completely.

CHRISTMAS FRUITCAKE

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.

ORANGE DRIED-FRUIT FRUITCAKE

Steps:

• Grease and lightly flour an 8-inch fluted tube mold or, grease an 8x4x2-inch loaf pan; line pan with parchment paper, grease paper and set aside.
• Combine flour, baking powder, and baking soda; set aside.
• In a bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on medium speed for 30 seconds.
• Add the brown sugar; beat until mixture is combined.
• Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating on medium speed until combined (batter may appear curdled).
• Combine orange peel, juice, corn syrup, and vanilla.
• Add flour mixture and juice mixture alternately to butter mixture, beating on low speed after each addition just until combined.
• Combine fruits and nuts and fold into batter, spread into prepared pan.
• Bake in a 300 degree F oven about 1 hour in tube pan, about 1-1/2 hours in loaf pan, or until a wooden toothpick comes out clean.
• If necessary, cover cake with foil the last 15 to 30 minutes to prevent overbrowning.
• Cool cake in tube pan on wire rack 10 minutes.
• Remove from pan and cool thoroughly on rack. Or, thoroughly cool the cake in loaf pan on wire rack; remove from pan.
• Wrap cake in brandy- or juice- moistened 100-percent cotton cheesecloth.
• Wrap in foil.
• Store in refrigerator 2 to 8 weeks; remoisten cheesecloth about once a week or as needed.
• If desired, sprinkle with pearl sugar and garnish with orange-peel curls before slicing.