Plum cake refers to cakes prepared with fresh or dry fruits. Most people prefer adding alcohol to soak dry fruits. The American tradition of eating fruitcake around the holidays stemmed from the British tradition, when the dessert was sometimes called Christmas cake or plum cake.
This is a non alcoholic cake, instead of alchohol substituted with orange juice.. the spices and nuts gives a unique taste to the cake. We got 5-6 different store bought cakes gifted by friends but the family preferred eating my cake😊😊.
INGREDIENTS
STEP : 1
THIS STEP HAS TO BE FOLLOWED DAY 1(PREVIOUS DAY)
- Orange juice 1/2 cup
- Orange rind 2 tsp
- Cran berry, raisin, Tutty fruity 3 tbsp each or 1 cup
- Almonds, pistachios, cashews 1/2 cup or 2 tbsp each
STEP : 2
THIS STEP HAS TO BE FOLLOWED DAY 2 (NEXT DAY)
- Maida 1 cup
- Brown sugar 1/2 cup + 1/2 cup
- Hot water 1/2 cup
- Baking soda 1/4 tsp
- Baking powder 1 tsp
- Cinnamon 1 inch
- cardamom 4
- nutmeg small piece
- cloves 2
- Butter 100 gm
- Eggs 3
- Lemon juice 1 tbsp
- Orange rind 1 tsp
- Vanilla essence 1 tsp
- Salt a pinch
METHOD
STEP 1 ( previous day or day 1)
Chop the nuts and raisins.
Soak all the ingredients mentioned in step 1(day 1) in orange juice. Refrigerate and keep.
STEP :2 ( NEXT DAY OR DAY 2)
Ingredients for the cake.
In a kadai or deep frying pan heat at low flame 1/2 cup brown sugar.
It will start melting, go on stirring it.
When it starts reaches boiling consistency , turn off heat and slowly add the hot water.
Turn on heat and reduce the flame, cook till it becomes slightly thick , dont the burn sugar . Turn off the heat.
Keep the brown sugar syrup aside.
In a strainer add maida, baking powder, baking soda and a pinch of salt. Strain into a large vessel 3 times. This is done so that everything mixes well together. Keep it aside.
Separate egg whites and yolks in separate bowls. Beat the egg whites till fluffy . Beat the Yolks too. Keep it aside.
Powder the sugar, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg.
In a separate vessel add butter and powdered sugar, beat it nicely.
Add egg whites little at time and beat. Add egg yolks and beat well.
Add lemon juice, sugar syrup, lemon zest, vanilla essence, beat slightly.
Add the soaked nuts with orange juice, mix well.
Add the flour little at a time and beat very slightly and fold well with other ingredients.
Grease the baking tray with butter or line with parchment paper.
Add the cake batter and slightly tap it.
Preheat 180 for 15 minutes. Bake @170° C for 45 -50 minutes. To check insert a knife on tooth pick , it should come out clean or you will have to bake more.
