Christmas apricot and walnut fruit cake
Ingredients:
- 1 cup dried apricots, chopped
- 1 cup walnuts, chopped
- 1 cup raisins
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 1/4 cup rum (optional)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions:
Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C). Grease and flour a 9-inch round cake pan or line it with parchment paper.
In a mixing bowl, combine the chopped apricots, walnuts, raisins, and dried cranberries. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, ground cloves, and salt.
Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the butter-sugar mixture, alternating with the orange juice and rum (if using), starting and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined.
Stir in the vanilla extract.
Fold in the chopped fruit and nuts mixture until evenly distributed.
Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan and smooth the top with a spatula.
Bake in the preheated oven for about 60-75 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Remove the fruitcake from the oven and let it cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Then, transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely.
Once cooled, you can serve the fruitcake as is or wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and store it in an airtight container. This fruitcake tastes even better after a few days as the flavors meld together.
This Christmas Apricot and Walnut Fruitcake is rich, moist, and packed with festive flavors. The combination of dried apricots, walnuts, raisins, and cranberries adds a delightful sweetness and texture to the cake. Enjoy a slice of this delicious fruitcake during the holiday season or whenever you're craving a special treat.
