How to make a delicious Plum Cake for the Holidays
Plum cake refers to a wide range of cakes made with either dried fruit (such as grapes, currants, raisins or prunes) or with fresh fruit. There is a wide range of popular plum cakes and puddings. Since the meaning of the word "plum" has changed over time, many items referred to as plum cakes and popular in England since at least the eighteenth century have now become known as fruitcake.
The English variety of plum cake also exists on the European mainland, but may vary in ingredients and consistency. Settlers in British colonies brought the dried fruit variety of cake with them, for example, in India it was served around the time of the Christmas holiday season and came to be called "plum cake".
Here is a simple plum cake recipe that is sure to be a hit at your holiday party. Give it a try! Happy Holidays!
PLUM CAKE RECIPE
Ingredients:
Butter- 1 cup
Powdered Sugar- 2 cups
Eggs- 7
Baking Powder- 2 tsp
All Purpose Flour- 1.5 cups
Vegetable Oil- 2 tbsp
Caramel Color- 1 tbsp
Garnish:
Fresh Whipped Cream
Seasonal Fruit Slices
Dry Coconut Flakes or fresh blueberries (optional)
Fruit Mix Ingredients:
Dried Fruit & Nut Mix- 2 cups
(raisins, currants, chopped almonds, Pistachio, lemon peel, orange peel, tuti-fruti, figs- 2 tbsp each)Vanilla essence- 2 tsp
Cinnamon powder- 1 tsp
All Spice- 1 tsp
Cardamom powder- 1 tsp
Orange Juice- 1 no.
Tools:
8 inch round cake tin, lined with parchment paper or paper tins
Method:
Mix all the ingredients under Fruit Mix and keep aside for at least 1 hr.
Sieve flour with baking powder.
Cream butter and powdered sugar. Add eggs, one at a time and beat till well combined. Add oil, vanilla and caramel color and cream further.
Fold in the flour and then the fruit mixture.
Transfer mixture into the prepared tin and bake in a pre-heated (350 degree) oven for 25-30 minutes.
Cool and garnish with fresh whipped cream and fresh fruit or coconut flakes and blueberries.
Enjoy!