Christmas fruit cake or plum cake recipe step by step preparation of low sugar, low fat, and healthy Christmas fruit cake or plum cake made with whole wheat flour and buttermilk.
It is an eggless and alcohol-free dried fruit cake recipe that is also known as Kerala Christmas fruit cake as it is first originated in Kerala state in India.
This fruit cake or plum cake is the main attraction during the Christmas celebration time, and it is a rich, dense, and spiced cake. It is also called plum cake even plums are not used, the raisins used in the cake are called plums.
What is Fruit cake
Fruit cake is a specialty cake that is made with the use of lots of dry fruit and baked during Christmas time. Traditionally fruit cake or plum cake is made using wine and eggs that give them a fluffy and soft texture. But in this recipe, eggs are replaced with buttermilk and wine with orange juice that provides a similar taste as wine gives. You can also try apple or grape juice if you do not like the taste of orange juice. Also, the use of soft brown sugar and whole wheat flour makes it more healthy and yummy.
Other recipe you may like Britania style tutti-frutti cake with wheat flour (No oven), Carrot orange cake | healthy cake recipe, Nutrient Rich Ragi and Almond Meal Cookies, Dry Fruit Tart with Paneer Filling / No-Bake Tart Recipe / Navratri Special
Dry fruits used in making of Fruit cake
Mainly dry fruits like raisins, berries, cherries, almonds, apricot, dates are soaked in wine or fruit juices and used in the making of cake but, you can use other dried fruit of your choice. If using fruit juices mostly, soaking is done only overnight or for up to a week when put the soaked dry fruits in the refrigerator.
Here, in the making of plum cake, I have used fresh homemade orange juice for soaking dry fruits but, can be replaced with market bought juice. As they have added sugar so, lower the sugar quantity in the recipe. The purpose of adding caramel syrup is to give a nice brown color and flavor to the cake but, I have replaced the caramel syrup with soft brown sugar and add a little cocoa powder to give nice chocolate color and flavor.
Heath benefits of the main ingredients used in the making of christmas fruit cake
Orange juice
- 100% unsweetened homemade orange juice contains various essential vitamins and minerals and packed with vitamin C which boost immunity and protect us from cold, flu, and infections.
- Oranges are rich in antioxidant properties therefore a good choice for healthy and flawless skin.
- low calories, high fiber make it a good option for weight loss.
- Calcium and citrate present in orange juice keeps bone strong and helps in breaking down kidney stones.
Dried fruits
- They are a great source of protein, fibre, various essential vitamins, and minerals.
- Dry fruits are rich in antioxidants and are considered a healthy and delicious snack.
- They help in lowering blood pressure, reducing blood sugar spikes and bad cholesterol also provides a feeling of fullness.
- Dried fruits are rich in natural sugar so eat in moderation is recommended.
Soft brown sugar
- It has molasses content and a minute amount of minerals as compared to white sugar therefore a good replacement of white sugar. As they are rich in carbohydrates so, eat in moderation is recommended.
Step by step preparation of Christmas fruit cake | how to make plum cake
How to soak dry fruit
1. Take a ceramic bowl, add orange juice and brown sugar; mix them. Then add chopped dried mango, kiwi, raisins, black currants, cranberry, dates, ginger peel, apricot, and almonds. Mix them well, cover the bowl, and put it in the refrigerator for a week or at least overnight if you are in a hurry. Mix them in between.
Preparing the cake batter
2. In a measuring cup, add milk and vinegar to make its buttermilk. Put aside for 5-10 minutes.`Grease a round 6″ cake tin and line with parchment paper. Keep aside. Take an orange and with the help of a fine greater grate the skin of the orange to make orange zest.
3. Take a bowl, put a strainer, sieve wheat flour, cornflour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, milk powder, cinnamon powder, clove powder, and cardamom powder. Mix and Sieve them. Put them aside.
4. Preheat oven at 180 degrees Celsius for 10-15 minutes.
5. Then take another bowl, add pre-soaked dry fruit and orange zest in it. After that, add sieved dry mixture and buttermilk gradually and mix them gently with cut and fold method.
6. Finally, add melted butter and vanilla and mix well. The batter should be of thick consistency. Transfer the batter into the cake tin, tap it few times and decorate with watermelon seeds. Place the cake tin in the preheated oven and bake it for 40-45 minutes or till the inserted toothpick comes clean.
7. Take out the cake tin from the oven and let it cool for 4-5 minutes. Remove the cake to the cooling rack and let it cool completely. Finally, cut into pieces and serve with a cup of hot tea or coffee.
Serving Suggestion
Christmas Fruit Cake is best enjoyed at breakfast time or as a dessert or a snack with a cup of milk or hot tea.
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Tips and Tricks
- Chopped the dried fruits before the soaking otherwise, they make the cake crumbly.
- If soaking is done more than 6 hours in the fruit juice then refrigerate it.
- Preheat the oven at least 10-15 minutes before putting the cake inside.
- Grease the cake tin well for easy removal of the cake after baking.
- Cool the cake completely on a cooling rack before cutting.
- All ingredients should be at room temperature.
- If brown sugar is not available make a caramel syrup of white sugar and add to the batter.
Recipe card for Christmas Fruit Cake | Plum Cake
Christmas Fruit Cake | Plum Cake
Ingredients
For soaking dry fruits
- ⅓ cup Orange juice
- ¼ cup Black currant
- ¼ cup Dried Cranberry
- ¼ cup Raisins
- ¼ cup Almonds
- ¼ cup Dried mango
- ¼ cup Dried Kiwi
- ¼ cup Dates
- 1 tsp Ginger peel
- 1 tbsp Dried apricot
- 80 gm Soft dark brown sugar ( or Jaggery powder )
For making cake batter
- 160 gm Whole wheat flour
- 3 Tbsp Corn flour
- 3 tbsp Cocoa powder
- ¼ Cup Milk powder
- ¾ Cup Milk
- 100 gm Melted Butter
- ½ tbsp Vinegar
- 1 tsp Orange Zest
- ¾ tsp Baking soda
- ½ tsp Baking Powder
- ¼ tsp Cardamom
- ¼ tsp Cinnamon
- ¼ tsp Clove powder
- 1 tsp Vanilla
- 2 tbsp Watermelon seeds
- 1-2 tbsp Extra Milk if required to adjust the consistency of cake batter
Instructions
How to soak dry fruit
- Take a ceramic bowl; add orange juice and brown sugar, mix them. Then add chopped dried mango, kiwi, raisins, black currants, cranberry, dates, ginger peel, apricot, and almonds. Mix them well, cover the bowl, and put it in the refrigerator for a week or at least overnight if you are in a hurry. Mix them in between.
Preparing the cake batter
- In a measuring cup, add milk and vinegar to make its buttermilk. Put aside for 5-10 minutes.`Grease a round 6" cake tin and line with parchment paper. Keep aside. Take an orange and with the help of a fine greater grate the skin of the orange to make orange zest.
- Take a bowl, put a strainer, sieve wheat flour, cornflour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, milk powder, cinnamon powder, clove powder, and cardamom powder. Mix and Sieve them. Put them aside.
- Preheat oven at 180 degrees Celsius for 10-15 minutes.
- Then take another bowl, add pre-soaked dry fruit and orange zest in it. After that, add sieved dry mixture and buttermilk gradually and mix them gently with cut and fold method.
- Finally, add melted butter and vanilla and mix well. The batter should be of thick consistency. Transfer the batter into the cake tin, tap it few times and decorate with watermelon seeds. Place the cake tin in the preheated oven and bake it for 40-45 minutes or till the inserted toothpick comes clean.
- Take out the cake tin from the oven and let it cool for 4-5 minutes. Remove the cake to the cooling rack and let it cool completely. Finally, cut into pieces and serve with a cup of hot tea or coffee.
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Loved this Christmas cake recipe, tried at home and turns out very nice.
Great! thanks for trying and giving your feedback. It is a big motivation for me.