Mulled Wine Fruit and Nut Christmas Cake: Make-Ahead Fruitcake

May 08, 2023May 8, 20230 3
Make-Ahead Mulled Wine Fruit and Nut Christmas Cake Recipe
in Dessert

Prep

45 min

Cook

170 min

Ready In

215 min

Level

Difficult

Rating

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars
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Ingredients

18 fluid ounces ruby port
1 cinnamon stick
6 cloves
1 nutmeg
1 orange , zest of , strips
7 ounces sultanas
7 ounces currants
7 ounces raisins
8 ounces ready to eat prunes , chopped
4 ounces sliced almonds
4 ounces glace cherries , quartered
4 ounces mixed peel
8 ounces softened butter
8 ounces soft brown sugar
4 organic eggs , beaten
9 ounces plain flour
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 teaspoons mixed spice
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 orange , zest of , grated

Nutrision Information

Servings Per Recipe
12
Calories
481
Sugar
53g
Fat
20g
This Mulled Wine Fruit and Nut Christmas Cake is a festive twist on a classic British fruitcake. The addition of ruby port, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg add a warm, spicy element to the cake that makes it perfect for the holiday season. The fruit and nuts in the cake make it substantial enough to serve as a dessert, and its relatively low sugar content makes it a healthier option than other Christmas desserts. Plus, since it can be made ahead of time, it's one less thing for you to worry about on Christmas Day!

Instructions

1.In a large saucepan, add the ruby port, cinnamon stick, cloves, nutmeg, strips of orange zest, sultanas, currants, and raisins. Stir to combine.
2.Place the pan over medium heat and bring the mixture to a simmer. Let the mixture simmer for 5-7 minutes or until the fruit is plump and the liquid is fragrant.
3.Remove the pan from heat and discard the cinnamon stick, cloves, nutmeg, and orange zest strips.
4.Add the prunes, sliced almonds, glace cherries, and mixed peel to the pan of fruit and mix thoroughly.
5.Preheat your oven to 130°C/250°F/gas mark 1/2.
6.Line a 9 inch (23cm) cake tin with baking parchment and set aside.
7.Cream together the softened butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Gradually add in the beaten eggs while continuing to cream the mixture.
8.In another bowl, mix together the plain flour, cinnamon, mixed spice, ground cloves, and ground ginger. Gradually add this dry mixture to the wet ingredients, stirring until just combined.
9.Add the grated orange zest to the bowl of cake batter and mix until combined.
10.Stir in the fruit mixture until everything is evenly dispersed.
11.Spoon the cake batter into the prepared tin and smooth the top using the back of the spoon.
12.Bake the cake in the preheated oven for 2-2½ hours or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
13.Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool in the tin for 20-30 minutes. Turn out the cake onto a wire rack and let it cool completely.
14.Once the cake is cool, wrap it tightly in a layer or two of baking parchment then a layer of tin foil. Store it in a cool, dry place until you're ready to ice and serve it.

PROS

This Mulled Wine Fruit and Nut Christmas Cake is perfect for the festive season and can be prepared in advance, making it a stress-free dessert option.

It’s packed with flavorful dried fruit, nuts, and festive spices.

It has a relatively low sugar content compared to other Christmas desserts.

CONS

This cake does require some planning ahead to make sure it’s ready in time for Christmas.

The fruit needs to be simmered in mulled wine prior to adding it to the cake batter, which can be time-consuming.

HEALTH & BENEFITS

Fruitcakes are not typically considered healthy due to their high sugar and fat content. However, this recipe includes lots of dried fruit and nuts, which provide a range of essential vitamins and minerals like fiber, potassium, and magnesium.
The spices used in this recipe like cinnamon, cloves, and ginger are known to have anti-inflammatory properties and may help to support the immune system.

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