Fruit and Nut cake

Exhausted with work for past 10 days. Finally got some time today to update my blog. Every year during this time we go for cherry and strawberry picking. Last week one of my two friends birthdays. Since I couldn't meet them on their birthday planned to make some nice cake for them and enjoy in today's picnic. Since weather is too hot these days planned to make cake without frosting. Finally ended up making fruit cake.

Here is the recipe for the same. Source - web.


Ingredients:

2 cups of all purpose flour
2 tea spoons of baking powder
1/2 tea spoon of baking soda
1 tea spoon of cinnamon powder
1 tea spoon of nut meg powder
1/4 tsp of clove powder
1 tsp of salt
3/4 cup of brown sugar
1 egg
4 tbsp butter(room temperature)
3/4 cup of chopped nuts( I used pecans and walnuts)

1 tbsp of orange zest
1 tea spoon of vanilla extract
3/4 cup of orange juice
1/3 cup of orange liquor
2 cups of dried fruits. (I used 1 cup chopped dates and 1 cup of dried mixed fruits)

Preparation:

Mix all dried fruits in orange liquor and soak for at least 30 mts. Tip: The more you soak the better it tastes.

Preheat oven at 350F. Grease the loaf pan and line parchment paper on the bottom.
Sift together flour,baking powder, baking soda, spices(nut meg, cinnamon, clove) and salt.

In a mixing bowl add sugar and butter and beat using electric mixer on speed 1. While beating add egg, vanilla extract and orange zest. With the mixer on low add the flour mixture and orange juice alternatively to the mixture until combined.
By hand fold dried fruits mixture along with liquid and nuts.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 1 hour or until tooth pick comes out clean. Cool in the pan for 10 mts, then turn over on wire rack and cool completely.

This cake tastes better served next day.




Serving options:

1. Slice and serve.
or
2. Slice and serve with cream cheese frosting.


Picture taken in the picnic: