Christmas Cake Recipe Without Alcohol
Christmas Cake Recipe Without Alcohol is a festive, rich fruit cake made using orange juice instead of alcohol. It combines dried fruits, nuts, and warm spices for a moist, flavorful dessert. Safe for all ages, it brings holiday cheer, can be stored for days, and offers a traditional Christmas taste without spirits.
Equipment
- Large mixing bowls
- Saucepan
- Hand or stand mixer
- Spatula or wooden spoon
- 8-inch round cake pan
- Parchment paper
- Sieve (for dry ingredients)
- Cooling rack
Ingredients
- 2 cups mixed dried fruits raisins, cranberries, cherries, chopped dates, dried apricots
- ½ cup fresh orange juice or apple juice
- ¼ cup water
- 1 cup mixed chopped nuts almonds, cashews, pistachios
- 1½ cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter softened
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
- ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom
- Zest of 1 orange
- Icing sugar optional for dusting before serving
Instructions
Step 1: Soak The Fruits
- Put the dried fruits, orange juice, and water into a small saucepan. Warm them gently over a low flame for about 5–7 minutes, just until the fruits become soft and the liquid is mostly gone. Set aside and let the mixture cool completely.
Step 2: Prepare The Cake Tin
- Grease an 8-inch round cake tin and line it with parchment paper. Preheat your oven to 160°C (320°F) while you get the batter ready.
Step 3: Mix The Dry Ingredients
- In a large mixing bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and all the ground spices. Stir in the chopped nuts and set this mixture aside.
Step 4: Cream The Butter And Sugar
- In a separate bowl, beat the softened butter and brown sugar until the mixture looks pale and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each one. Then mix in the vanilla extract and orange zest.
Step 5: Combine Everything
- Gently fold the dry ingredients into the butter mixture, adding them a little at a time. Once combined, stir in the cooled soaked fruits with a spatula until everything is evenly mixed.
Step 6: Bake The Cake
- Pour the batter into your prepared tin and smooth the top. Bake in the preheated oven for about 60–70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Step 7: Cool And Serve
- Let the cake rest in the tin for 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely. Once cool, dust with icing sugar. Slice and enjoy or store it in an airtight container to keep it fresh.