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White fruitcake

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  • Prep Time15 mins
  • Total Time2 hrs 15 mins
  • Makes3 cakes, each 8 slices
White fruitcake

iStock photo.

The rich taste of butter, dried fruit and nuts with almond flavouring will alter most people's idea of traditional fruitcake.

Ingredients

  • 6 cups golden raisins

  • 2 cups glacé pineapple wedges, about 450 g

  • 2 cups cut, mixed citrus peel, or glacé red and green cherries, about 450 g

  • 1 to 2 cups blanched slivered almonds, toasted and finely chopped

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour

  • 2 tbsp baking powder

  • 1/2 tsp salt

  • 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter, at room temperature

  • 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

  • 7 eggs

  • 1 tsp vanilla

  • 1 tsp almond extract

  • 1/2 cup 10% or 18% cream

  • 3 to 4 tbsp brandy, rum or bourbon

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 275F. Line three 9x5-in. loaf pans (or any baking pans that will hold a total of 18 cups of batter) with foil. To easily make a foil pan, smooth ample pieces of foil over the outside of pans, then drop the shaped foil into the pans. Coat with cooking spray or lightly grease.

  • In a very large bowl, stir raisins with pineapple, peel and almonds. Add 1/2 cup flour and toss until fruit is coated. In another bowl, use a fork to stir remaining 2-1/2 cups flour with baking powder and salt. In another large bowl, beat butter with sugar using an electric mixer on medium speed or a wooden spoon. When creamy, after about 3 minutes beating with mixer, add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Then, beat in vanilla and almond extract.

  • Beat in a third of flour mixture. As soon as it is mixed in, beat in half of the cream. Mix and repeat additions, ending with flour. Using a large rubber spatula, stir in fruit mixture, using a folding motion until evenly distributed. Spoon into prepared pans and smooth tops. Bake in centre of 275F oven until golden and a cake tester or skewer inserted into the centre of cake comes out almost clean, about 1-1/2 hours. Cake top should feel firm when lightly pressed. Cool in pans on rack. Turn out cakes and remove foil.

  • Saturate cheesecloth with brandy and wrap around cakes. Seal in plastic bags and refrigerate. Check after a week and re-soak cheesecloth if necessary. Cakes will keep well for months.

Nutrition (per serving)

Calories 240, Protein 3g, Carbohydrates 41.7g, Fat 7.9g.

Originally published in Chatelaine's November 2003 issue.

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