Easy Christmas Fruit Cake | Plum cake

Easy Christmas Fruit Cake

Ingredients

 for cake batter

• flour -180g (1+1/2 cup)
• baking powder - 1tsp
• salt - 1/4 tsp
• butter (softened) - 180g (3/4cup)
• eggs - 3
• brown sugar -  180g(1 +1/4 cup)
• orange juice - 2 tbs
• vanilla essence - 1tsp

 fruit mix

• cashews chopped - 1/4 cup
• dates chopped - 6 no
• cherry -1/4 cup
• raisins - 1/4 cup
• candied peel - 1/ 3 cup
• tutty fruity - 1/ 3 cup
• ground spices -1tsp  (1small piece of  cinnamon, 1 cardamom, 1 cloves, a small piece of nutmeg) 

  Method

 step 1 : prepare cake tin

• butter an eight inch round pan
• line ith butter paper 
• dust with flour and remove the excess flour
• note that baking time varies depending on pan size; when you use small size pan , the baking time increases.

step 2 : prepare fruit mix

• add the fruits into a bowl
• mix in the spice powder
• you can use fruits and nuts of your choice; when the quantity of fruit mix increases, baking time also increases

   step 3 : prepare cake batter

• in a mixing bowl cream together butter and sugar until light and creamy
• beat in 3 eggs one at a time
• add in vanilla essence and mix well
• mix together flour, baking powder and salt; sift into the butter mixture in batches
• use a spatula for folding
• fold in gently; over mixing results in tough cake
• add in the fruit mix into the batter and combine well
• pour orange uice and combine well; note that do not overwork the batter
• transfer the batter into the cake tin; spread evenly; tap out any air bubbles trapped.

 step 4 : baking

• bake in a preheated oven at 165 degree for 1 hours or when a toothpick inserted at the centre of the cake comes out clean
• if you bake this in high temperature, the outside will become brown and the inside will remain uncooked.
• when it is done allow the cake to cool completely in the pan[it may take two hours]
• then cut it and serve!