Soaking up for that time of the year! Christmas it is!! I soaked mine dry fruits, did you? To enjoy a luscious and aromatic Christmas cake it’s time to get the fruits soaked. After the scrumptious pumpkin brownies and the fig custard it’s time for the christmas cake. The Ginger bread cookies and the chocolate swiss rolls are also in my christmas menu.
Traditionally these dry fruits are soaked in rum or any other alcohol base. But it can be done with orange, grape or cranberry juice too. I soaked them all in orange/cranberry juice in a mason jar and refrigerated them until preparation time. Usually a 25-15 days of time span is good enough to get these soaked. I am all excited for the prep as my kids and I are reliving this school time days and loving every part of it.
Check these festive menu on the blog
Last year I replaced rum with apple and grape juice which gives a close to rum taste though different. But it tastes good. This year I used just the cranberry juice to soak and didn’t use any dates and figs. You can use your choice of fruits here. Traditionally raisins, prunes, black currants along with a few candied cherries and fruits works great.
No soak method
You can simply prep these fruits a day before if you do not want to soak them. Just boil all the fruits with juice and 1 cup of brown sugar and set them aside overnight. We can use this mix the next day in baking the cake.
Christmas time reminds of of the good old school days where the month we prepped for the party. Teachers rehearsed our Carol’s and we all decorated the class rooms. The best part I wouldn’t forget ever is the luscious rum balls we loved to have at the party. Back then they we outsourced from the famous Pasteur Bakery in camp, Pune. We just loved it! We had to prior book them as they would be out of stock if we would just walk in. This cake is a pure blend of all the natural and rich dried fruits to compliment the flavours of spices used with it!!
It is super easy as I make the cake using milkmaid and the spices warm up my home for christmas!!
Let us check the process to soak the dry fruits
Soaking for the christmas fruit cake
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup Raisins
- 1/4 cup Golden raisins
- 1/4 cup Black currants/blueberries
- 2 tbsp Cherries
- 4 tbsp Prunes
- 4 tbsp Candied fruits (Cherries,plums, any)
- 2 tbsp chopped dried dates (optional)
- 2 tbsp chopped dried figs (optional)
- chopped dried apricots (I didn't use)
- Handful of almonds and walnuts (cashews if you like)
- 1 cup Orange juice or Grape juice or Cranberry juice (Rum if doing an alcohol cake)
- Canning jar or any clean and airtight jar
Instructions
- Clean all the seeds and stems from the dry fruits you are using.
- Chop them fine and keep them dry.
- Now mix all the dry fruits well in a bowl. Pour them in the jar.
- Pour orange/cranberry/grape juice over it.Rum if using alcohol
- Stir it with a spoon and close the lid.
- Keep it refrigerated anytime between 15 days to 25 days before actual baking day.Keep shaking the jar periodically. We will use these on the baking day.
- Shaking the ingredients every week can help the juice coat evenly.
No soak method
- Mix the favourite ingredients and add 1 cup of juice to it.
- Heat everything in a saucepan. Add 1 cup of brown sugar to it.
- Boil until everything incorporates well and allow to cook on low medium for about 10-12 minutes.
- Cool down the mix and allow it to rest overnight.
- You can use this mixture instantly without soaking for days. Boiling helps in enhancing the flavours and soaking in well.
Notes
- You need not use all the above mentioned ingredients.
- A basic fruit cake can be made with raisins, prunes and cranberries with few candied fruits for flavour.
- Juice can be any or a mix of all.
- If not soaking them a month before you can simply bring all these to a boil with juice and 1 cup of brown sugar and use the next day.
Also check our other popular eggless recipes here
- Eggless red velvet brownies
- Vegan, Gluten free raspberry muffins
- Eggless Banana bread
- Avocado Oatmeal Cookies
- Eggless Chocolate chip cookies
- Eggless mini pineapple cherry cheesecake
- Egg free Ladyfingers
If you like and try this recipe do write reviews in the comment section below.
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Enjoy healthy eating 😋