Fruitcake That Won't Make You Gag Recipe

María del Mar Sacasa
Fruitcake That Won't Make You Gag Recipe

Notes:

  • Tightly wrapped, this cake will keep for up to 2 weeks.
  • Candied cherries are an entirely optional decoration.
    • Yield:makes 8 to 10 servings
    • Active time: 1 hour
    • Total time:3 to 4 hours

    Ingredients

    • For the Cake
    • Baking spray
    • 1/2 cup orange liqueur, such as Grand Marnier
    • 1/2 cup cognac
    • 2/3 cup golden raisins
    • 1/3 cup dried cherries
    • 1/3 cup dried figs, stemmed and quartered lengthwise
    • 1/3 cup dried red plums or dried apricots, chopped
    • 1/2 medium-sized navel orange, scrubbed, seeds removed, and cut into 1-inch pieces
    • 1/2 cup medjool dates, pitted
    • 2 tablespoons grated fresh ginger
    • 1 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped
    • 1/2 cup pistachios, coarsely chopped
    • 1/4 cup coarsely chopped candied pineapple (about 2 slices)
    • 3 tablespoons finely chopped candied orange peel
    • 3 tablespoons finely chopped candied ginger
    • 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
    • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
    • 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
    • 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
    • 3/4 cup boiling water
    • 2 teaspoons instant espresso powder
    • 3/4 cup mild molasses
    • 3/4 cup vegetable oil
    • 3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
    • 2 large eggs, lightly beaten and at room temperature
    •  
    • For the Glaze
    • 1/2 cup cherry juice or orange juice
    • 1/2 cup orange liqueur, such as Grand Marnier
    • 1/2 cup sugar
    • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
    • 1/8 teaspoon salt

    Directions

    1. 1.

      For the Cake: Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350°F. Grease a Bundt pan with baking spray.

    2. 2.

      In small saucepan, bring orange liqueur, cognac, raisins, cherries, figs, and plums or apricots to boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until fruits are plump and liquid has reduced to about 2 tablespoons, 8 to 10 minutes. Set aside and cool completely, about 20 minutes.

    3. 3.

      Meanwhile, in food processor, pulse orange pieces, dates, and fresh ginger until ground to a pulp. Transfer to large bowl. Stir in poached fruit mixture, walnuts, pistachios, candied pineapple, candied orange peel, and candied ginger.

    4. 4.

      In separate bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and allspice.

    5. 5.

      In separate medium bowl, whisk together boiling water, espresso powder, and molasses until thoroughly combined.

    6. 6.

      In large bowl, beat together oil, brown sugar, and eggs on medium speed until smooth, about 1 minute. Reduce speed to low and add flour mixture in three batches, alternating with the molasses mixture and beat just until combined, scraping down sides and bottom of bowl as necessary.

    7. 7.

      Stir in fruit mixture. Scrape batter into prepared pan and bake until tester inserted in center of cake comes out clean, about 1 hour.

    8. 8.

      Transfer pan to cooling rack and cool cake in pan 15 minutes.

    9. 9.

      For the Glaze: While cake is cooling, combine orange juice, sugar, vanilla, and salt in medium heavy-bottomed saucepan and bring to boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until thickened and reduced to 1/2 cup, about 10 minutes.

    10. 10.

      Invert cake onto cooling rack. Brush sides and top of cake with warm glaze and cool completely, 1 to 2 hours.