Description
A rich, moist Christmas Eve fruit cake packed with dried fruits, spices, and festive warmth. Perfect for last-minute baking or gifting during the holidays.
Ingredients
Scale
- 250g mixed dried fruit (raisins, currants, sultanas)
- 100g glacé cherries, halved
- 100g chopped dried apricots
- 100ml orange juice or brandy
- 200g unsalted butter, softened
- 200g brown sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 200g plain flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp ground cloves
- Pinch of salt
- Optional: 50g chopped nuts (walnuts or pecans)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 150°C (300°F). Line a 20cm round cake tin with parchment paper.
- Soak the dried fruit, cherries, and apricots in orange juice or brandy for at least 30 minutes.
- In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
- Sift in the flour, baking powder, spices, and salt. Mix until combined.
- Fold in the soaked fruit and optional chopped nuts.
- Spoon the batter into the prepared tin and level the top.
- Bake for 1.5 to 2 hours, or until a skewer inserted comes out clean.
- Allow to cool in the tin for 15 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Wrap tightly in parchment and foil to keep fresh, or decorate as desired.
Notes
This fruit cake can be baked on Christmas Eve and enjoyed the next day. For extra flavor, brush with brandy or juice and store in an airtight container overnight.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 28g
- Sodium: 90mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 60mg
Keywords: christmas eve fruit cake, holiday baking, easy fruit cake, festive cake