Etznab's Christmas Cake

This is a fruity and nutty cake that will end your negative associations of fruit cake. It may seem like there are a lot of ingredients but it is any easy recipe. This fruit cake uses mostly dried fruit, such as the stuff in trail mix packages as opposed to the multi colored preservative laden stuff commonly sold during the holiday season.


Sift the following dry ingredients:

Cream the following:  Mix fruit and nuts: Instructions:
Fold the flour mixture into the creamed mixture. Add fruit. Mix everything. Pour into a lightly greased pan. The batter rises quite a bit, so fill the pan only 2/3 full. Bake at 325 degrees until golden brown. Test for doneness with a toothpick. Remove cake from oven when toothpick comes out clean. Remember, you are testing the batter, not any fruit that may be sticking to the toothpick. Cool. Invert. Prick all over with toothpick. Sprinkle with plain rum or a sugar glaze. Will keep about two weeks in an airtight container.
 
 

Approximate baking times are:

For small cupcakes 25 minutes

For mini cakes about 4 inches in diameter 40 minutes (Walmart sells very nice mini bunt pans)

If you are using one large bunt pan or square pan bake in a water bath for about 90 minutes. If you skip the water bath, the outside of the cake will brown before the center is cooked thoroughly. To bake in a water bath, place the pan with the batter in a larger pan, similar in fashion to a dish you place under a flowerpot. Add water to the outside pan.

I realize I gave you a very wide range for baking time. It depends on how soft you like the cake, how much filling you use, how accurate your oven is, the color of your pan and probably the alignment of the planets as well.
 
 

candied fruit peels
You could always buy this in the store or make it according to your own family recipe. The following is how I always make candied fruit peels. Take the full peel, not just the outer colored part (zest) of oranges, lemons, and/or grapefruit. Soak it in salt water for three days, rinsing and replacing the salt water once per day. Squeeze out salt water and rinse thoroughly. Cut into strips or chunks. Add white granulated sugar and cook over medium heat.
 


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