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Christmas Fruit Cake

A delightful and versatile fruit cake that captures the spirit of the holiday season, perfect for gatherings and make-ahead baking.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American, Holiday
Calories: 250
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Dry Ingredients
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Wet Ingredients
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
  • 1/2 cup orange juice
  • 2 tablespoons grated orange peel
  • 1/2 cup bourbon or rum (optional) Serves as a lovely touch for adults
Fruits and Nuts
  • 2 cups mixed dried fruits (e.g., raisins, dried cranberries, chopped dried apricots)
  • 1 cup nuts (e.g., walnuts, almonds, pecans), chopped
  • 1/4 cup fresh apples or pears, diced For a fresh twist!

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Whisk until evenly mixed.
  3. In another bowl, mix the melted butter, sugar, applesauce, orange juice, and orange peel. If desired, stir in the bourbon.
Mixing
  1. Gradually add the wet mixture to the dry ingredients, folding gently to combine.
  2. Gently fold in the mixed dried fruits and nuts. Optionally add diced apples or pears.
Baking
  1. Pour the mixture into a greased loaf pan (or two) and smooth the top.
  2. Bake for 60-70 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
  3. Let the cake cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

This cake can be wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and stored for up to a month. For drier cake, skip the bourbon. Soaking dried fruits in bourbon overnight enhances flavor.