Nothing beats the taste of a homemade fruit cake during the holiday season. This traditional dessert has been enjoyed by generations and is a staple at family gatherings. If you want to make a fruit cake that tastes just like grandma used to make, then follow this recipe!
Gather Your Ingredients
The first step to making a delicious fruit cake is to gather all the necessary ingredients. Here's what you'll need:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups white sugar
- 4 eggs
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 1/2 cup lemon juice
- 1/2 cup brandy
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 pound mixed candied fruit
- 1 cup chopped walnuts
Prepare the Fruit
The next step is to prepare the fruit. Start by washing and chopping the candied fruit into small pieces. Then, mix the fruit and chopped walnuts together in a bowl with a tablespoon of flour. This will prevent the fruit from sinking to the bottom of the cake while it bakes.
Cream the Butter and Sugar
Now it's time to cream the butter and sugar together. Use an electric mixer to beat the softened butter and sugar until it becomes light and fluffy. This should take about 5 minutes.
Add the Eggs and Juices
Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Then, add the orange juice, lemon juice, and brandy. Beat until well combined.
Sift the Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, allspice, and nutmeg. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, beating well after each addition.
Add the Fruit and Nuts
Now it's time to add the prepared fruit and nuts to the batter. Use a spatula to fold them into the batter until they are evenly distributed.
Bake the Cake
Preheat your oven to 325°F. Grease and flour a 9-inch cake pan or a loaf pan. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the surface with a spatula.
Bake the cake for about 2 to 2 1/2 hours or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Cover the cake with foil if the top starts to brown too much before the cake is fully cooked.
Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool in the pan for 10 minutes before removing it from the pan and transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.
Wrap and Store the Cake
After the cake has cooled completely, wrap it in parchment paper and then in aluminum foil. Store it in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for at least a week before serving. This will allow the flavors to meld together and the cake to become moist and delicious.
Enjoy!
Now that you know how to make a traditional fruit cake, it's time to enjoy it! Serve it with a cup of tea or coffee during the holidays, or give it as a gift to friends and family. This fruit cake recipe is sure to become a family favorite that will be passed down for generations to come.
