Boiled Fruit Christmas Cake Recipe
Boiled Fruit Christmas Cake Recipe is a rich, moist holiday cake made by simmering dried fruits, butter, and spices before combining with a soft batter and baking. Full of warm, festive flavours and tender texture, this cake is perfect for sharing during celebrations. Its deep sweetness and spice create a traditional, indulgent treat enjoyed by family and friends.
Equipment
- Medium saucepan
- Mixing bowls
- Wooden spoon or silicon spatula
- Electric mixer or whisk
- 20 cm (8-inch) round cake tin
- Baking parchment
- Cooling rack
Ingredients
Boiled Fruit Mixture
- 2 cups mixed dried fruits raisins, sultanas, currants, chopped dates, and glace cherries
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup butter
- ½ cup orange juice
- ½ cup water
- 200 g walnuts chopped
- ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ⅓ cup brandy or rum
Cake Batter
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon golden syrup or honey
- 1 cup plain all purpose flour
- 1 cup self raising flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
Cook The Fruit Base;
- Put the dried mixed fruit, brown sugar, butter, orange juice, water, orange zest, walnuts, and the spices into a saucepan. Warm it over medium heat until it starts to bubble gently. Let it simmer for about 3–4 minutes, giving it a stir every now and then.
Add The Brandy And Let It Cool;
- Take the pan off the heat and mix in the brandy. Leave the mixture to cool completely this helps the flavours settle and keeps the eggs from cooking when you add them later.
Get The Oven And Tin Ready;
- Heat the oven to 160°C (320°F). Line your cake tin with baking paper on the base and around the sides.
Combine The Wet Ingredients;
- Whisk the eggs, vanilla, and golden syrup (or honey) in a large bowl. Stir in the cooled fruit mixture until everything is evenly combined.
Add The Dry Ingredients;
- Sift the plain flour, self raising flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, and salt together. Gently fold this into the fruit mixture, stopping once everything is just mixed.
Bake;
- Pour the batter into the lined tin and smooth the surface. Bake for about 1½ to 1¾ hours, or until a skewer pushed into the middle comes out clean. Let the cake rest in the tin for 10 minutes, then turn it out onto a rack to finish cooling.
Finish And Serve;
- Once fully cooled, slice and serve. Enjoy!