Christmas Cake/Plum cake - Alcohol Free Version

Christmas Cake -alcohol free

Then Best part about the Christmas season is the yummy sweet treats that you can get to eat throughout the season like the cakes and the muffins. So get ready to prepare my version of plum cake without using Rum. Trust me,you'll surely be happy that you tried this recipe at home. 

In India, plum cake is found everywhere during Christmas season, although it is also available commonly throughout the year. Traditionally the dry fruits are soaked in rum for a month before making the cake. To make cake without alcohol cook the fruits in Caramel syrup and orange juice for 5-10 minutes. This cake is a alcohol free version.

Merry Christmas to all!!!

Ingredients:

1. All purpose flour - 1 cup
2. Eggs - 3 nos
3. Sugar - 1 cup ( powder)
4. Baking powder - 1 tsp
5. Baking Soda-1/2 tsp
6. Butter - 1 cup 
7. Vanilla extract -1 tsp
8. Raisins - 1/2 cup
9. Cashew nuts - 1/4 cup (chopped)
10. Tutti frutti - 1/2 cup
11. Cinnamon powder - 1/2 tsp
12. Nutmeg powder-1/4tsp
13. Grated orange zest - 1 tsp
14. Cherries - 5 (chopped)
15. Sugar - 1/2 cup (To make caramel)
16. Water - 2 tbs
17. Warm water - 1/4 cup
18. Orange juice - 1 cup

• Method:
• To prepare Caramel-Orange syrup:

1. Mix the 1/4 cup of sugar with 1 tbsp of water and melt over medium low flame until the sugar dissolves and caramelizes. Now remove the pan from the heat and add 1 cup of warm water slowly and mix well. Caramel-orange syrup  is ready.
2. Soak the fruits,tutti frutti and zest in this caramel syrup,leave it overnight at room temperature ( you can make this syrup a month ahead and refrigerate).

• To Prepare the Cake:

1. Preheat the oven 160°C. Sieve Maida/ all purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda all spice powder cinnamon +  nutmeg), salt and combine altogether evenly.
2. Nice beat  butter and add a cup of sugar powder. Then add the eggs one at a time and beat well. Now add the flour mixture little by little and beat well.
3. Add the caramel mixture,soaked raisins, nuts, tutti frutti, cherries, grated orange zest, vanilla extract into the batter and mix them with a spoon thoroughly.
4. Grease a medium baking pan with butter and pour the batter,tap on work surface to get rid of any air bubbles.
5. Bake the cake for  about 45-50 minutes.When the cake is ready, test with a skewer. Poke it into the middle of the cake and if it comes out clean - the cake is done.Remove from the oven.