Christmas special Eggless Fruit Cake

Here’s a festive recipe for a Christmas Special Eggless Fruit Cake, perfect for celebrating the holiday season. This rich, moist cake is packed with dried fruits and nuts, and flavored with warm spices, making it a holiday favorite.

Ingredients:

For the Fruit Mixture:

• 1 cup mixed dried fruits (raisins, cranberries, cherries, apricots, etc.), chopped
• 1/2 cup mixed nuts (walnuts, almonds, pecans), chopped
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 1/4 cup brandy or rum (optional, can be replaced with orange juice or apple juice)
• Zest of 1 orange

For the Cake:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup yogurt (as an egg substitute)
• 1/4 cup molasses or dark treacle
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. Prep the Fruit Mixture:
   • In a bowl, combine the chopped dried fruits, nuts, orange zest, orange juice, and brandy or rum. Mix well and let it soak overnight, or heat it in a microwave for a minute and let it stand for an hour to plump up.
2. Prepare the Oven and Pan:
   • Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C).
   • Grease and line an 8-inch round cake pan with parchment paper.
3. Mix Dry Ingredients:
   • In a large bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt.
4. Cream Butter and Sugar:
   • In another large bowl, cream together the softened butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
5. Add Wet Ingredients:
   • Mix in the yogurt, molasses, and vanilla extract into the creamed butter and sugar until well combined.
6. Combine Mixtures:
   • Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture.
   • Stir in the fruit and nut mixture until everything is well combined.
7. Bake:
   • Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top.
   • Bake for 60-75 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
8. Cool and Serve:
   • Let the cake cool in the pan for about 20 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
   • Optionally, for added moisture and flavor, you can brush the warm cake with a little extra brandy or rum.

Tips:

• For a non-alcoholic version, use additional juice instead of brandy or rum.
• Decorate the top of the cake with whole nuts or candied cherries before baking for a festive look.
• This cake can be made several days ahead and stored in an airtight container to develop the flavors.

Enjoy your Christmas Special Eggless Fruit Cake, a true holiday treat that brings warmth and joy to your festive celebrations!