SOAKING OF FRUITS FOR CHRISTMAS CAKE | RUM CAKE | CHRISTMAS FRUIT CAKE

SOAKING OF FRUITS FOR CHRISTMAS CAKE | CHRISTMAS CAKE PART-1

Soaking fruits for Christmas Cake is the first and main step to make traditional Christmas Fruit Cake that has to be done weeks before the eve of Christmas.Fruits,dry fruits of different choice are soaked into alcohol for weeks before the Christmas.

The fruits can be soaked in sherry,rum,whisky,brandy,red wine or orange-flavoured liquor.For flavouring alcohol,the dryfruits should be soaked for a minimum of six weeks.Alcohol acts as a preservative for the fruits.

Here I have used dates(खजूर),tutti-frutti,cherries,golden raisins(किशमिश) and walnuts(अक्रोड) and Citrus peel of orange that gives a zesty taste which is quite refreshing in the cake.

I have soaked the fruits for about 2 weeks.But check the fruits each day and add more alcohol if needed so that it doesn’t dry out.

The traditional Christmas Cake is rich,dark,moist.When the dry fruits are soaked,they absorb the liquid and become plump.When baked,some of the liquid oozes out into the cake batter which results into a moist cake.

When preparing the cake add the soaked fruits to the cake batter and reserve the soaking liquid in another bowl.

If you don’t want to add the alcohol for soaking then add orange juice instead.

Here I have added the fruits of my choice which were easily available to me.But you can add more of your choice.Also here I am going to add the Cheshew-nuts(kaju),Almonds(badam) and Pistachio(pista) while preparing the cake batter.

IMPORTANT NOTE :

DO NOT soak the fruits in a plastic or steel or aluminium container as the alcohol tends to react with these materials.Soak the fruit in a clean glass container only.
For non-alcoholic Christmas Fruit Cake,soak your fruits overnight prior to baking in Orange Juice.

So lets start with the process of soaking of dryfruits….

WATCH THE YOUTUBE VIDEO BELOW :

SOAKING OF FRUITS FOR CHRISTMAS CAKE | CHRISTMAS CAKE PART-1

cuisine : international
prep : 15 minutes
cook : 2 weeks
total : 2 weeks+15 minutes
author : suchita pradeep

INGREDIENTS :

¼ cup chopped golden raisins/(किशमिश)
¼ cup chopped dates/(खजूर)
¼ cup chopped cherries
¼ cup tutti frutti
¼ cup chopped walnuts/(अक्रोड)
1 tbsp orange zest
¾ cup Rum
Glass Jar/Container

METHOD :

First chop all fruits in small pieces.
In a bowl add all chopped fruits.
Add lemon zest to it.
Mix everything well.
Now add Rum to the fruit mixture.
Give everything a nice mix.
Now take a glass jar.
Add the mixture to the glass jar.
Cover it.
Keep this jar at room temperature for about 2 weeks.
Check the soaked fruits each day and add more alcohol if needed so that it doesn’t dry out.
When preparing the cake add the soaked fruits to the cake batter and reserve the soaking liquid in another bowl.
Your soaked fruits for Christmas Cake is ready.

IMPORTANT NOTE :

DO NOT soak the fruits in a plastic or steel or aluminium container as the alcohol tends to react with these materials.Soak the fruit in a clean glass container only.
For non-alcoholic Christmas Fruit Cake,soak your fruits overnight prior to baking in Orange Juice.

STEP BY STEP METHOD OF PREPARING SOAKING OF FRUITS FOR CHRISTMAS CAKE | CHRISTMAS CAKE PART-1

First chop all fruits in small pieces.

In a bowl add all chopped fruits.

Add lemon zest to it.

Mix everything well.

Now add Rum to the fruit mixture.

Give everything a nice mix.

Now take a glass jar.

Add the mixture to the glass jar.
Cover it.
Keep this jar at room temperature for about 2 weeks.

Check the soaked fruits each day and add more alcohol if needed so that it doesn’t dry out.
When preparing the cake add the soaked fruits to the cake batter and reserve the soaking liquid in another bowl.
Your soaked fruits for Christmas Cake is ready.

IMPORTANT NOTE :

DO NOT soak the fruits in a plastic or steel or aluminium container as the alcohol tends to react with these materials.Soak the fruit in a clean glass container only.
For non-alcoholic Christmas Fruit Cake,soak your fruits overnight prior to baking in Orange Juice.