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Everyone's Favorite Fruitcake

Reggie Dwork <reggie@jeff-and-reggie.com>
Wed, 02 Dec 2020 14:46:59 -0800
v120.n046.2
* Exported from MasterCook *

                       Fruitcake, Everyone's Favorite

Recipe By     :King Arthur Baking
Serving Size  : 32    Preparation Time :0:00
Categories    : Bread                           Bread-Bakers Mailing List
                 Desserts                        Fruit
                 Holidays                        Low Fat
                 Nuts                            Posted

   Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
                         Fruit
   1 1/2           cups  dried pineapple -- diced (213g)
   1 1/2           cups  raisins -- golden or regular, (255g)
   1                cup  dried apricots -- diced, (128g)
   1 1/2           cups  chopped dates -- (223g)
   1                cup  candied red cherries -- (heaping cup) plus Note:
      1/3           cup  crystallized ginger -- diced, optional, (64g)
      3/4           cup  rum -- brandy, apple juice, or cranberry juice, (170g)
                         Batter
   16       tablespoons  unsalted butter -- at room temp, at least 65F, (227g)
   2               cups  dark brown sugar -- packed, (425g)
   1           teaspoon  salt
   1           teaspoon  cinnamon
      1/4      teaspoon  allspice
      1/4      teaspoon  nutmeg
   1           teaspoon  baking powder
   4              large  eggs -- at room temperature
   3               cups  All-Purpose Flour -- Unbleached, (361g)
   2        tablespoons  black cocoa -- optional, for color, (11g)
      1/4           cup  boiled cider -- golden syrup, or dark corn 
syrup, (85g)
      1/2           cup  apple juice -- cranberry juice or water, (113g)
   2               cups  chopped toasted nuts -- (almonds, pecans, or 
walnuts), (227g)
                         Topping,glaze: -- optional
   1         tablespoon  rum -- brandy, simple syrup,
      3/4           cup  vanilla syrup -- or ginger syrup

"No, no, not the dreaded FRUITCAKE..." Fear not: this moist, dark 
cake is loaded with yummy-tasting dried fruits, not the icky, bitter 
candied peel and citron you remember from visiting your grandma at 
Christmas. The dried fruits suggested below are simply that - 
suggestions. Feel free to substitute your own favorites; you'll need 
about 2 1/2 pounds dried fruit total.

Note: additional for decoration, if desired, (170g)

PREP: 30 mins
BAKE: 1 hr to 2:15
TOTAL: 2:30
YIELD: 36 small cakes; 2 large loaves; or anything in between

To prepare the fruit: Combine the fruit with the liquid of your 
choice in a non-reactive bowl; cover and let rest overnight. Too 
impatient to wait until tomorrow? Microwave everything for 1 minute 
(or until it's very hot), cover, and let rest 1 hour.

Preheat the oven to 300F. This recipe makes enough batter for ONE 
(not all!) of the following: 3 dozen individual (muffin pan) cakes; 
16 mini loaves (about 3 3/4" x 2 1/2"); 6 to 8 medium loaves (about 
3" x 5"); or 2 standard 9" x 5" loaves. Choose your pans (or 
combinations), and lightly grease them. If you're making muffin-size 
cakes in a standard muffin pan, line the pan with muffin papers, and 
lightly grease the papers.

To make the batter: Place the butter and sugar in a large bowl (at 
least 6-quart), and beat together until well combined.

Beat in the salt, spices, and baking powder.

Beat in the eggs one at a time, scraping the bowl after each addition.

In a separate bowl whisk together the flour and cocoa.

Add the flour mixture and the syrup (or boiled cider) to the mixture 
in the bowl, beating gently to combine.

Stir in the juice or water, then the fruit with any collected liquid, 
and the nuts. Scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl, and stir until 
everything is well combined.

Spoon the batter into the pans, filling them about 3/4 full.

Bake the cakes on the middle shelf of the oven, as follows: about 60 
minutes for the individual cakes; 65 to 70 minutes for the small 
loaves; 75 minutes for the medium loaves, and 2 hours + 10 to 15 
minutes for the 9" x 5" loaves. The cakes are done when a cake tester 
inserted into the center comes out clean.

Remove the cakes from the oven. Fruitcake can remain in its pan for 
storage, if desired. Or carefully remove cake from the pan after 
about 5 minutes, loosening its edges first.

Brush the warm cake with rum or brandy. Or simple syrup, or flavored 
simple syrup (vanilla, rum-flavored, etc.). If you like just a hint 
of rum or brandy flavor, add 1 tablespoon of liquor to 3/4 cup 
vanilla syrup or simple syrup, and brush this mixture on the cakes.

When the cakes are completely cool, wrap them tightly in plastic 
wrap, and store at room temperature for up to 6 to 8 weeks.

Tips from our Bakers

Do you HAVE to brush the cakes with alcohol or syrup? Well, it does 
keep them moist for weeks. But if you want to leave them 
"un-brushed," understanding they won't stay moist long-term, that's just fine.

If you've made the small, muffin-sized cakes, it helps to put them 
all in a large plastic container with a snap-on lid; or into a sealed 
plastic bag, both to help keep them moist, and to be able to move 3 
dozen cakes around without a fuss.

This recipe can also fill two tea loaf pans. Divide the batter among 
two lightly greased tea loaf pans, or bake one after the other if you 
only have one tea loaf pan (if you have a kitchen scale, half the 
batter will weigh about 1,588g). Bake the cakes for 2 hours to 2 
hours and 10 minutes, or until a cake tester or toothpick inserted 
into the center comes out clean. Yield: 2 loaf cakes.

While we like the flavors provided by the different fruits listed 
above, fruitcake can be a bit of a blank canvas for whatever dried 
and/or candied fruits are your favorites. We've had great success 
using a mixture of our fruitcake fruit blend, candied lemon peel, 
candied orange peel, and mini diced ginger.

Cal 320, Fat 11g, Carb 50g, Sod 130mg, Fiber 2g, Pro 4g

S(Internet address):
   https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/everyones-favorite-fruitcake-recipe
                                     - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Per Serving (excluding unknown items): 319 Calories; 12g Fat (32.2% 
calories from fat); 5g Protein; 50g Carbohydrate; 3g Dietary Fiber; 
42mg Cholesterol; 105mg Sodium.  Exchanges: 1/2 Grain(Starch); 1/2 
Lean Meat; 1 1/2 Fruit; 2 Fat; 1 Other Carbohydrates.

NOTES : 2020 - 1202