This Christmas cake has RUM SOAKED DRY FRUITS inside, cream cheese frosting, frosted fruits and herbs as decorations on top. I recommend that you have a slice of cake and a cup of your favorite beverage with your loved ones.
“Christmas is nothing but a Hodge-Podge of many things,” utters Justin. He is a project manager of our team. Every Friday, we meet to talk about our last sprint (2 week of work) where we talk about Star Wars, World Series and anything and everything else.
My husband is a Jew, which means Christmas is nothing but eating Chinese and watching movies for him. However, we Indians do celebrate Christmas. When I was growing up, my dad used to bring fruitcake. We used to go for a picnic with our extended family and enjoy food, cake, and fruits and play games. Our school gave us 7 days off during Christmas and I used to enjoy this day the most.
After coming here, I got myself a Christmas tree, lights, decorations and every year, I bake some sort of cake to celebrate. Sometimes, it was just me alone and a few times it was with friends. Now I have a partner in crime to celebrate with.
First I decided to do Panettone, but after speaking with Ilva and Laura who live in the heart of Tuscany and hearing how difficult that is – I decided to bake my good old Christmas cake. AUTHENTIC PANETTONE IS NOT EASY TO DO – but I will do it one day, trust me!
2 years back in 2013, I prepared this boozy fruitcake for my friends and Matt (who was not my husband back then). I followed Alton Brown’s recipe as a base recipe. However, this year, I wanted to something different and unique, so I opted to do this cake but in a unique way. I chose cream cheese frosting and to decorate using frosted berries. My hands were itching to do cake decorations ever since I have taken the Wilton class.
However, American frosting is nothing but a sugar frosting – which is simple to decorate but terrible to eat. After researching, I found this recipe from call me cupcake which suited my desire perfectly. The frosting and the cake decorating idea are adapted from Call me cupcake and Domestic Gothess.
There are many people who soak dry fruits for months! But I don’t have the time and energy to do the same. So I have soaked them just for 4 days. If you’re short on time, Alton suggests microwaving for 5 minutes just before cooking. I was very creative, so I have used dried cherries, raisins, blackcurrants, candied ginger, prunes, dates and apricots. Use your favorite mix of dry fruits, but make it up to 4 cups. Then, add 1 cup of rum – I have used spiced rum.
This Christmas cake recipe is adapted from Free Range Fruitcake.Frosting and decor ideas are from Call me cupcake and Domestic Gothess.
Recipe for Christmas cake
Pans used in this recipe are 
Fruit cake
- 1/2 cup golden raisins
- 1/2 cup black currants
- 1/4 cup dried cherries, chopped
- 1/4 cup candied ginger, chopped
- 1/4 cup pitted prunes, chopped
- 1/4 cup date, chopped
- 1/4 cup apricots, chopped
- 1 cup spiced rum or more rum to baste
- Enough Flour and butter to grease the pan
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 1/4 sticks unsalted butter
- 1 cup unfiltered apple juice
- 1 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon ground all-spice
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 to 1/2 cup toasted pecans, chopped
- In a glass container, add raisins, blackcurrants, dried cherries, candied ginger, pitted prunes, date and apricots. Add rum and store at least overnight (up to 4 days) in a place where it does not get any sunlight. No need to refrigerate.
Note: For a quick option, microwave for 5 minutes.
- Set the oven to 325 degrees. Have to hand an 8 by 3-inch round cake pan greased with flour and butter.
- In a non-stick saucepan, add fruits and liquid, sugar, butter, apple juice, cloves, all-spice, cinnamon and ginger. Bring the mixture to boil. After that, reduce the heat and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes over a medium heat. Take it aside and cool it completely.
- Combine flour, salt, baking soda, and baking powder and sift it into a mixing bowl. Add cooled fruit mixture, eggs and with a spatula, mix it very well. Add nuts and fold it gently.
- Spoon this mixture into the greased cake pan and bake for 1 hour 15 minutes to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Take it aside and cool completely on a cooling rack.
Cream Cheese Frosting and decoration
- Dip blueberries, cranberries, and rosemary sprig into the egg mixture and put it on a paper towel to dry them a bit. You don’t want them sopping wet before rolling into sugar.
- Roll them in granulated sugar and take it aside in a plate, which you can use later for decorations.
- In a bowl, add butter. With an electric hand mixer, beat it well for at least 2 minutes, or until it’s pale and fluffy.
- Add powdered sugar and continue to beat it for 5 minutes or more until it’s very pale and fluffy.
- Add cream cheese and beat it until completely smooth.
Note: I have not added any color, however, any color can be added.
What a delicious looking fruit cake Dolphia — very festive and awesome. Love the clicks, they make me want to grab that slice right out 🙂 Creamcheese frosting sounds sinful for that cake.
Love this post. Has so much warmth to it even in this cold.
Thanks Dolphia…
Truly Christmas-y Dolphia. Christmas is not complete without a cake. Lovely photos (goes without saying.. :)) – Sreelatha
I want to be neighbor right now so I could drop by just for a slice!! That looks just awsm Dolphia. You make me miss baking all the more!
Thank you so much Kankana 🙂
Thank you dear Sree
Thank you Sumana 🙂
Thank you Pavani 🙂
Gorgeous cake! I make fruticake every other year and stollen on thoe years where it is not fruitcake LOL! As a Jew can your husband “celebrate” Christmas? Is it not Hannuka or Channuka that is celebrated at this time of year?
Meeta, Hanukkah was earlier this year 🙂
Beautiful! Very well researched and elegantly made just like your other recipes. Too bad that I was not home on the Christmas week to give it a go! But with winter just beginning, I don’t have to wait till next Christmas to try it, right?:). Wish me luck! Kudos to your talent! BTW, looking forward to seeing your detox tea recipe!