Fruit Cake (Rich)

Rich Fruit Cake recipe is a variation of butter cake which is easy to bake. The secret to a great tasting one is to use lots and lots of dried fruits soaked with brandy or rum ro make it super moist. Once it can only be savoured by the wealthy as the prices for dried fruits and spices are high, it is today a tradition to give fruitscakes as a gift during Christmas. Over the years, fruitscake had been served in conjunction with Christmas and weddings but it still remains one of the most well known cakes throughout history. The Rich Fruit Cake recipe here is a very basic ones which still maintains the traditional taste of butter cake with mixed fruit inside. Brown sugar may be used in place of sugar for added richness if desired and it is also much healthier compared to table sugar (sucrose).

Below is a video showing you how to bake Rich Fruit Cake

Recipe
150 gm Unsalted Butter
100 gm Sugar
20 gm Glucose
1/2 tsp Vanilla Essence
3 nos Whole Eggs
150 gm Soft Flour
250 gm Raisins (Chopped)
100 gm Mixed Peel (Chopped)
100 gm Glazed Cherry (Chopped)
120 ml Brandy
1/2 nos Orange Juice
1/2 nos Lemon Juice

Method
1) Soak mixed fruit (raisins, mixed peel and cherry) in brandy, orange juice and lemon juice overnight or even better for a day or two.
2) Cream butter, sugar and glucose together in mixing bowl till smooth.
3) Add in eggs slowly one by one. The best way is to break the eggs (egg yolks) before adding it in to avoid batter splitting. continue to beat till fluffy.
4) Make sure batter is completely smooth before proceeding to add the next egg.
5) Add in vanilla essence and mix well.
6) Add in soft flour and mixed fruits..
7) Mix till all ingredients form a smooth batter. Do not overmix as cake texture will be affected (springy texture due to flour gluten).
8) Brush shortening on the bottom and sides of a baking pan. Line the bottom of pan with grease proof paper to prevent the cake from sticking to the bottom.
9) Pour in cake batter and bake in oven at 180 C (356 F) for 45 minutes. Insert a toothpick into centre of cake when done. If inserted toothpick comes out clean, your cake is done.

Recipe makes 1 X 15cmX15cm (6"X6") square cake pan fruit cake.