Quick Christmas Fruitcake

This is a really Quick Christmas Fruitcake for all of us who are rushed off our feet and haven’t found the time to do the Traditional “thing” — or couldn’t be bothered with the tons of ingredients that go in to the traditional cake.

What you need:

• 1 cup unblanched almonds
• 3 apples, peeled and thinly sliced
• 3/4 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 4 eggs
• 3 cups cake flour
• 2 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. ground ginger
• 1 tsp. grated nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 3 cups fruit mincemeat
• Powdered icing sugar

What to do:

1. Spread almonds in a single layer on ungreased baking sheet. Toast in preheated 350F or 180C degree oven for 10 minutes or until fragrant. Cool. Coarsely chop in food processor or by hand.
2. In bowl, combine almonds and apple slices.
3. In separate large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light.
4. Beat in eggs, one at a time, scraping down sides of the bowl occasionally.
5. In separate bowl, combine sifted flour, cinnamon, baking soda, ginger, nutmeg and salt.
6. Stir flour mix into the butter mixture alternately with spoonfuls of mincemeat until well combined.
7. Stir in apple mixture.
8. Pour into greased 10-inch bundt pan. Smooth top with spatula.
9. Bake at 350F or 180C for 1-1/2 hours or until cake tester inserted in center comes out clean and cake bounces back when pressed with thumb. (If cake becomes too dark on top during baking, cover with foil.)
10. Let cool in pan on rack.
11. Turn out onto serving plate and dust with sifted icing sugar.

note: Cake can be wrapped in brandy-soaked cheesecloth and stored in airtight container for up to 1 week, or frozen for up to 3 months.

This really is a Quick Christmas Fruitcake recipe to swear by. It is easy, and won’t take up precious time making it. And your guests will love it.

Carla

I am a preschool and primary school teacher and mum to 3 children. I have been involved in education since 1997 and have trained in a variety of educational specialist areas. It is with this expertise that I write articles to help parents and educators provide quality learning experiences for the children in their care.