Dried Fruit And Nut Cake

Let me start this year by wishing all my readers ‘A Happy and Prosperous New Year’. Thank you for all your wishes through comments and emails.

Fruit And Nut Cake

No, I didn’t bake this cake. This is one of my holiday favourites though; fruit cake from Costco. A cake with so much dry fruits and nuts, and barely enough dough to hold them all together. Every year I buy one of these cakes and enjoy it slice by slice over the next few weeks. This year I got to make this cake at home, thanks to Alice Medrich, author of Pure Dessert. I have tried a handful of recipes from this book, and I should say I am happy with every one of them. The recipes are not atrociously laden with butter and other fatty stuff. And the ingredients are what one would usually have on hand. I am looking forward to trying many more recipes from this book.

I made two changes to the original recipe. I used a mixture of walnuts, almonds and pecans instead of walnuts only. After coming out of the oven, the cake was slightly dry and not so sweet. So I glazed the cake with warm agave nectar. That took care of both the issues, leaving the cake moist and sweet. I am planning to make this cake again, and this time I would add marinated cherries and candied citrus peel, for some colour and bite.

Ingredients

All purpose flour – ¾ cup
Baking soda – ¼ tsp
Baking powder – ¼ tsp
Salt – ½ tsp
Brown sugar - ¾ cup
Dried fruits (figs, plums, apricots, pears, raisins) – 1 cup
Dates – 2 cups, pitted
Almonds – 1 cup
Walnut halves – 1 cup
Pecans – 1 cup
Eggs – 3
Vanilla extract – 1 tsp
Agave nectar or honey – 1 cup

Method

Preheat oven to 300F. Grease 2 small loaf pans or 1 large loaf pan with oil or line the bottom and sides with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, mix together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Add brown sugar, all the dried fruits and all the nuts. Mix thoroughly with your fingers. In a small bowl, beat eggs and vanilla together. Pour this mixture over dry ingredients. Mix until everything is coated with eggs. Scrape the batter onto the prepared loaf pans.

Bake for 55-60 minutes. You can tell when its done when the nuts are aromatic and the top of the loaf is browned. Bake for additional 10 to 15 minutes for a larger loaf pan. Cool for 5 minutes. Pour warm agave nectar or honey over both the loaves. Let the loaves sit overnight. Slice and serve with coffee or as a snack anytime.

Fruit And Nut Cake

I am sending this luscious slice to Latha Mami and Lakshmi at The Yum Blog, who are hosting AFAM – Dry Fruits. I hope they accept my late entry.

38 comments:

amna said...

i was jus wondering yesterday what happened to you :) that sure is a dry fruits laden piece of heaven! have a wonderful new year Suganya!

KonkaniBlogger said...

Happy new year Suganya..That sure looks divine, but only such a small piece at a time ;) ? Just kidding..

Raaga said...

have been able to open your blog after weeks Suganya... happy new year. Can't see the pics now and am frankly scared to refresh... for fear of being unable to comment later. Some really big issues with blogspot.

EC said...

Looks great...Happy new year to you too

Srivalli said...

Suganya...that looks sinfully evil!...errrhhh...bad you had without us!

Jayashree said...

That's a lovely way to start the New Year off Suganya.
Happy New YEar.....

Padmaja said...

Happy New Year Su!!
that cake looks so rich with nuts and simply divine!!

Laavanya said...

That's one loaded cake for sure.

Namratha said...

Looks wholesome and delicious!:)

evolvingtastes said...

Wow, a cake with no butter or oil added!! Might try this out.

evolvingtastes said...

And hmmm, nearly 6 cups of dried fruit and nuts and 3/4 cup of flour! How much of a crumb texture did the end result have?

Mansi said...

wow, that cake looks fabulous Suganya! I can eat anything with walnuts:) adding cherries and perhaps tutti-frutti would be a great idea..it'll not only give it color, but also that extra sweetness and crunch that makes fruit cake so great!

Wish you a dessert-licious 2008 girl:)

Sagari said...

thats a lovelyy cake suganya looks delecious

WokandSpoon said...

Yum! this looks like a lovely cake! I'd probably just eat it all at once! Happy New Year!

bee said...

dear suganya,
here's wishing you and your blog a wonderful 2008.

Shilpa said...

That looks very good Suganya.

Anonymous said...

What a way to start the new year- That cake is definitely loaded! Can't wait to see what is in store for 2008 for you.

(Happy New Year!)

Grihini said...

Happy New year Suganya! :)

Nice looking dried fruit cake.

sunita said...

Lovely cake...that's a wonderful start to the new year :-)

Rajesh &Shankari said...

ok I cant control the urge to make one of these beauties..oh I want one of thise slices

Anonymous said...

Hi Suganya ! I admire your blog and pictures everytime i browse your blog :-) Its really gr8! Wish you and yours a Happy New Year !

www.monaafzal.wordpress.com

Suganya said...

Well Nags, Am back now :) You have a great year too.

Thanks Maya. I saved that last slice for a pic. You should be thankful for that ;).

Raaga, Thanks for visiting all my older posts. I don't have a problem viewing pics nor anybody else. May be the page was not loaded properly. Blogger had issues couple weeks back, but not anymore, as far as I know.

EC, Thank you. Wishing you the same.

Come visit us, Srivalli. I will treat you with a whole loaf. Its so easy, you can try too.

Thanks Jayashree.

Happy New year to you too. Padmaja. It tastes divine too :).

Laavanya, it is rich. One slice is all you need for breakfast.

Thanks Namratha.

ET, That was exactly why I tried this cake. There was not much crumbs. Just enough dough to hold the crunchy nuts and soft & moist dry fruits.

Mansi, You are right. And thats exactly what I have in mind. Wishing you a great year too.

Sagari, Thank you. Try it, you will fall in love too.

W&S, We finished the first loaf within 2 days. We had to slow down before gulping it all :D.

Bee, Wishing you and Jai a very happy new year too.

Shilpa, Not as great as your cakes. I tried :).

Hannah, I can't wait too. I am waiting for Spring '08 for tender and fresh vegetables. I am slowly getting tired of root vegetables.

Thank you Grihini. I wish you the same.

Shankari, This is a breeze. With your expertise you will have no trouble at all. Try it.

Mona, Thank you for your visit and encouraging words. I am glad you like my blog. I wish you and yours a happy 2008.

FH said...

Gorgeous color. That's the best fruit cake I have seen so far.Enjoy.
Happy new year to you and family. I am starting to catch with everybody!:)

FH said...

Oh, I forgot to tell you about Lane cake. Here is the link for it, sounds like a great recipe.

http://members.nuvox.net/~zt.proicer/recipes/laneck.htm

Latha said...

Oh yumm! Both the cakes look divine and delectable.
Happy New Year to you guys Suganya!

Susan said...

More people would like fruit cake if it was as well prepared as Medrich's recipe. Thanks for pointing up her cookbook, Suganya. It looks a treat.

lakshmi said...

my jaw has dropped to the ground!!!! that cake is on a different plane

Happy New Year :)

Yes, yes - we got the mail but amma's busy taking care of a baby who's about 80 years old. :D

Rajitha said...

i loved the clear and crisp white of your cup and plate..looks so chic!! and that cake ...i think even to comment on it will make me add a few pounds ;)..happy new year to you and your family suganya...

Shella said...

oooh what a yumm cake that is. I am an absolute fan of cakes which barely have enough dough to hold the loads of nuts n fruits together!! Lovely Happy New Year.

Bharathy said...

Moist,Luscious,Healthy piece! :)..

Beautiful pics as always!

(I was lost staring at the pictures when I saw something popping up in the right side corner of the monitor!..That was your comment ! :D...which send me back to normalcy!:D

Ramya's Mane Adige said...

Happy New YEar, Suganya!!! the cake looks divine

Anamika:The Sugarcrafter said...

Hi suganya
I think i got an idea for my next wedding cake..
Have tried a powerpuff girl cake..do have a look

J said...

Looks perfect!

Rachel said...

woah that is a definitely loaded piece of cake!!

Finla said...

Happy New year.
It looks delicious.

Anamika:The Sugarcrafter said...

Hi suganya
Think of sugarcraft as clay modelling and play around with it. You will love it and awaken the inner creativity within yourself.

Archana Doshi said...

Absolutely Stunning and a very mouth wastering recipe.This is my first time here. I am sure everyone around you who ate this must have enjoyed it. I have this recipe down in my to do list.
Archana
http://www.archanaskitchen.com/

Suganya said...

Asha, Thanks for the recipe link. I just wanted to catch a glimpse of that cake :).

Happy new year to you too, Latha.

It sure is, Susan. I totally enjoy cooking from the book.

Take your time, Lakshmi. I was just worried whether you got my mail.

Thank you Rajitha.

Happy new year to you too, Shella.

Thank you Bharathy, Ramya.

Anamika, your fingers make magic with fondant. Keep going :)

Jyothsna, Rachel, Happy cook, Thanks for dropping by.

Anamika, clay modeling sounds fun. But it should be edible right. Do you, by any chance, have a fondant recipe?

Archana, Thanks for stopping by. We thoroughly enjoyed the cake. In fact we fought over this last piece in the pic :D

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