Description
This Old-Fashioned German Fruit Cake is a delightful dessert that’s perfect for the holiday season or any special occasion. Packed with a mix of dried fruits, nuts, and warm spices, this moist and flavorful cake will surely become a family favorite.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake:
- 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 1 tablespoon molasses
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups mixed dried fruits (such as raisins, currants, chopped dates, and chopped dried apricots)
- 1 cup chopped nuts (such as walnuts or pecans)
- 1/4 cup candied lemon or orange peel (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 325°F and grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan or line it with parchment paper.
- Cream butter and sugar: In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
- Add eggs: Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
- Combine dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg.
- Mix wet and dry ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, alternating with the orange juice. Stir in the molasses and vanilla extract until combined.
- Fold in fruits and nuts: Fold in the dried fruits, nuts, and candied peel until evenly distributed.
- Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake for 70–80 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool and serve: Let the cake cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- For best flavor, bake the cake a day or two ahead and store it wrapped in plastic wrap at room temperature.
- Brushing the cake with rum or brandy adds a traditional touch.
- Store the cake in an airtight container for up to one week.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 75 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: German
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 25g
- Sodium: 160mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 43g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
