Christmas is never complete without a Plum Cake. From childhood I used to love plum cake for their super mosit texture and loads of dry fruit and nuts in them. Although I have found a liking to the Indianised version of plum cake of using only rum essence and not real rum. This plum cake is also more of an Indian version of Christmas cake without using any booze and I call it last minute Christmas cake since it does not call for the traditional method of soaking dry fruits and nuts in rum for over a month or two. For more Christmas Recipes, check out my Christmas Menu HERE
Verdict ~ Cake is super moist and not too much over-powering in spices. Its not too heavy and has a little hit of rum (from rum essence). We both enjoyed it so much and plan to make one more to give away to friends
Ingredients
For Caramel
Sugar – 1/2 cup
Water - 1/4 cup (room temperature)
Cooking fruits & nuts
Dry fruits - 1 cup (raisins, sultanas, dates, figs)
Candied Orange/Lemon Peel – 1/4 cup, sliced thin
Unsalted Cashew – 1 cup, chopped
Orange juice – 3 tbsp
Unsalted Butter – 2 sticks (8
oz) at room temperature
Sugar granulated (white) – 1 cup
Eggs – 3 large
Vanilla Extract – 1 tsp
All-Purpose Flour – 1 1/4 cup
Baking Powder – 1 tsp
Spices - 1/2 tsp each (nutmeg, cardamom, cinnamon, dry ginger)
Method
- In a pan on medium heat, add 1/2 cup sugar, let it melt gradually until it turns golden brown give a quick swirl. It would take 3-4 minutes to melt completely, let it further darken for 20-30 secs and switch off the stove. Add the 1/4 cup water and now the caramel would harden, slowly heat and cook for 6-8 minutes until completely melted. The caramel would be dark similar to pepsi/coke. Set aside and completely cool down
- In another pan on medium heat add the orange juice/ rum and cook for 2 minutes and add the dry fruits, orange peels and cook for 3 minutes mix well and add the chopped nuts and cook for another minute. Set aside and cool down
- In a bowl sift flour, salt, spice powders and baking powder, set aside
- Pre-eat oven to 350F / 180C and line an 8" pan with parchment paper make sure that the sides are lined with 4" height, this helps in not burning the cake
- In a mixing bowl beat butter until smooth, add 1 cup sugar gradually and beat until soft and fluffy.
- Add one egg at a time and beat for 2 minutes after every addition. Add the vanilla and rum extract and beat for another minute
- Slowly add flour and caramel alternately and beat well after every addition until everything is used up
- Add the dry fruits and nuts and mix well until well combined
- Tip the cake pan with the batter and bake in center of oven for 50-55 mins start checking the cake from 45 mins. Check with a skewer inserted in center and comes clean
- Once done let in cool with pan for 10 mins then release the cake onto the cooling rack until it is completely cooled down
Dust with icing sugar and cut to serve.
Cooks Wisdom
- This is a non-alcoholic cake, to make an alcoholic version use 1/4 cup rum to cook the dry fruits and nuts instead of orange juice
- Alternatively apple juice can also be used
- I have used rum extract, if you are not able to get it don't worry simply use only vanilla extract
- Caramelizing sugar is very important make sure you don't burn it, else cake will turn bitter
- Orange peels enhances flavor of this cake so make sure you use them
- The amount of flour may vary on the size of pan that you are using.
- The cake takes time to cook in the center so don't panic simply wait and keep checking
Beautiful pictures and a nice post.. You have done it very well.. Great Job, Priya..!
ReplyDeletelovely clicks sis.wow.this cake last time i bought.this time i gonna try.yummy.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful cake dear,great job,love the texture. Adding the spices and orange juice sounds a cool idea.
ReplyDeleteLooks great priya!! Lovely presentation and perfectly baked...
ReplyDeleteI am totally in love with ur cake with ur stunning cake and decoration it looks wonderful.Your snow flake design in ur site makes it more attractive.
ReplyDeleteYes Priya, as you said Christmas is never complete without a Plum cake. Plum cake is my favourite. You made it perfect. Nice presentation dear. Though I made the plum cake, I haven't presented well dear. Your presentation is awesome.....brings the mood of Christmas...
ReplyDeleteBeautiful cake!
ReplyDeleteMy my how I love your cake with all the lovely christmas decorations..GREAT job!!
ReplyDeleteLooks yummy....Nice pictures..Good Job...I would like to have a bite of it :)
ReplyDeletePerfect and lovely cake dear...
ReplyDeleteNice cake &beautiful presentation.Merry christmas
ReplyDeleteWow! Nice bake Priya! good clicks too
ReplyDeleteLovely cake. nice decoration.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful cake with lovely clicks. I too make almost the same, except that I beat the egg separately and fold it in.
ReplyDeleteLooks very tempting.
beautiful pics priyaa..so yummy...love ur presentation as always..
ReplyDeleteWonderful clicks dear...love it...
ReplyDeleteSinful Bliss. Thanks for sharing a simple yet delectable recipe of Fruit Cake.
ReplyDeleteBaked perfectly
ReplyDeleteHome Made Recipes
Very inviting clicks, drooling here.
ReplyDeletelooks divine priya; loved the pics and the bake looks stunning :)
ReplyDeleteperfect cake for this festive season.
ReplyDeleteAwesome cake dear
ReplyDeleteBeautifully done christmas cake Priya. Looks great.
ReplyDeleteWow! What a beautiful Plum Cake! I haven't made one before - yours truly looks tempting and beautiful photos as usual, Priya! Amazing.
ReplyDeletenice pics and cake too
ReplyDeleteBeautifully propped. Cake looks so yummy
ReplyDeletelet me see if I can convince my daughter to make this. She insiss fruits need to be soaked for at least a month. love the look of the cake
ReplyDeletewow... fantastic looking cake... truly a visual treat!!
ReplyDeleteCake looks fab n so the pictures .....
ReplyDeleteyou styled the photos so beautifully..looks so nice and festive
ReplyDeleteloving each and every pic priya!
ReplyDeleteCute pics and looks delicious too.
ReplyDeletecake looks beautiful priya...ur clicks are amazing...
ReplyDeleteEven i cant imagine christmas without this cake, love ur clicks Sis, cute props.
ReplyDeleteThe cake is screaming Christmas, priya! Lovely :)
ReplyDeleteSandhya
wow.. this looking so yummm!!!
ReplyDeleteperfect cake with beautiful decoration
ReplyDeleteA showstopper. Love it.
ReplyDeletelovely clicks....
ReplyDeleteWOW! Wonderful cake & beautifully presented! I can't take my eyes off these lovely pictures!
ReplyDeleteAwesome presentation! I would love a slice of that gorgeous plum cake!
ReplyDeleteBellissimo il dolce e le foto , sempre magnifiche!!!!
ReplyDeleteFelice serata!!!
Beautiful beautiful pictures Priya..I love this cake and cant get enough of this :) Ur blog looks sooo Festive !
ReplyDeleteNice presentation, looks too good to eat :)
ReplyDeletebeautifully done priya.love the cake.happy to follow u.
ReplyDeleteYour cake is so pretty and festively decorated! It has lovely texture and looks positively delicious!
ReplyDeleteChristmas is never complete without these cakes. Yours look really lovely and the pics are beautiful...
ReplyDeleteRecipe to keep…
ReplyDeleteMade the cake. Totally appreciated. I will post it soon ... will of course give a link to your site. THank you. Maybe post the pictures on your timeline too.
ReplyDeleteBookmarked ur recipe, looks delicious!
ReplyDeleteLooks so delicious!
ReplyDelete