SOFT MOIST
BRANDIED
FRUIT CAKE
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Brandied Fruit Cake - a must have dessert for the holiday season. This cake is so moist and with all the chewy fruits and nuts is so delightful. For those who might be skeptical with the brandy, not to worry because it won't make you drunk. All you get is the nice aroma of the alcohol. It will make your whole house fill with holiday and celebration mood, for some reason that how I felt. Hope to will give this a try to impress you family and guests. Enjoy!
Watch my YouTube video for clearer picture and steps for baking. Should you like my video. Kindly subscribe my channel, and give me a "like" if you enjoy my video as there are going to be more recipe video coming up every week. Also, leave your comments or questions if you have any. Thank you.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup red candied cherries, diced
1/2 cup green candied cherries, diced
1/2 cup dried apricots, diced
1/2 cup gold raisins
1/2 cup black raisins
1 tbsp orange zest
1 cup brandy or rum
3/4 cup pecans, diced
3/4 cup walnuts, diced
230g (1 3/4 cup) cake flour or all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
250g (1 cup) unsalted butter
200g (1 cup) dark brown sugar
3 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tbsp brandy (brandy) optional
50g (3 tbsp) orange juice
Instructions:
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How to make brandied fruits
1. Dice up only those large pieces of dry fruits.
2. In a large glass container, add all the dry fruits.
3. Add the brandy. I chose brandy because it has a dark colour. Lightly stir the fruits so that they are evenly soaked in the brandy.
4. Leave it in room temp for 1 day. It will even be better for couple of days or even a week :) it's totally up to you.
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*You may leave out the alcohol part completely, if you do not wish that in your cake.
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How to make the brandied cake
5. Strain your brandied fruits. Leave the remaining brandy aside for use later.
6. Cut up all the nuts in dice and set aside.
7. Sift the flour, baking powder and salt and set aside. (I forgot to add salt into the sift earlier)
8. Preheat oven at 150°C/300°F
9. In a large mixing bowl, add butter and sugar. Mix on low speed for about a minute, just to get them combined. Then increase to medium speed and mix for about 10 min until creamy and fluffy. Scrape the bowl from time to time.
10. Reduce speed to low. Add eggs one at a time.
11. Add in the dry ingredients, spoon by spoon.
12. Add in vanilla extract, brandy (optional, if you want more brandy aroma), orange juice.
13. Scrape the bowl and mix for few seconds to combine.
14. Add the mix fruits and nuts. Use a spatula to fold in until they are evenly mixed in the batter.
15. Lightly grease the pan and line the parchment paper. Since mine is a square pan, I like to line the paper that way (refer to video).
16. Pour the batter in and bake it at 150°C/300°F for about 2 hours until the toothpick comes out clean.
17. Let the cake cool. Poke few holes on top of the cake. While it is warm, brush some remaining brandy onto the surface. Let it cool before cutting the cake.
18. Ready to serve.
