While the classic Christmas Plum Cake often contains eggs, there's a delightful alternative that caters to those with dietary restrictions or simply seeking a variation. An eggless Christmas Plum Cake, equally rich in flavor and tradition, offers the same delectable experience without the eggs.
Ingredients:
Cooked Dried Fruits:
- Orange juice
- Water
- Lemon juice
- Candied fruits
- Raisins
- Dried apricots
- Dried cranberries
- Prunes
Dry Ingredients:
- Maida (All-purpose flour)
- Cinnamon powder
- Ginger powder
- Clove powder
- Orange zest (about 1 tsp)
- Baking powder (1 tsp)
- Baking soda (1/2 tsp)
Wet Ingredients:
- Vegetable oil
- Dark brown sugar
- Yoghurt (1 cup)
- Vanilla extract
Additional Ingredients:
- Mix of almonds, cashews, and walnuts
- Reserved cooked dried fruits
Instructions:
- Preparing the Cooked Dried Fruits:
Combine in Saucepan:
To make tasty cooked dried fruits, start by mixing things in a pot on medium heat. Here's what you need:
- Orange juice
- Water
- Lemon juice
Add Dried Fruits:
After that, add these yummy dried fruits into the pot:
- Candied fruits
- Raisins
- Dried apricots
- Dried cranberries
- Prunes
Cook for 5 Minutes:
Let it all cook together, and in a few minutes, the fruits will soak up the tasty juice, becoming soft and plump. It's the first step to making a delicious treat for your Eggless Christmas Plum Cake.
- Alcohol Infusion (Optional):
For those opting for an alcoholic touch, replace the water in the saucepan with an equal quantity of rum. This provides a traditional flavor without the need for prolonged soaking of the fruits.
Preparation of Dry Ingredients: Getting Ready for the Cake
After Cooking the Dried Fruits:
Once the dried fruits are done cooking, set them aside for a moment. Now, it's time to work on the dry ingredients for our cake.
Combine in a Bowl:
Take another bowl and gather these things:
- All-purpose flour (Maida) (1+1/2cup)
- Cinnamon powder (1/4 tsp)
- Ginger powder (1/8 tsp)
- Clove powder (1/8 tsp)
- Orange zest (1 tsp)
- Baking powder (1 tsp)
- Baking soda (1/2 tsp)
Mix Well:
Now, mix them all together. Give it a good stir until everything is nicely combined. Your dry ingredients are all set! Put the bowl to the side for now; we'll use it in the next steps of making our delicious cake.
- Mixing Wet Ingredients:
Take a big bowl for mixing. Use a whisk (or a fork) to mix these things well:
- Vegetable oil
- Dark brown sugar
Add More Good Stuff:
Pour in 1 cup of yogurt and a bit of vanilla extract into the bowl.
Keep Mixing:
Keep stirring until everything is nice and smooth. Now, your wet ingredients are ready to use!
Mixing Wet and Dry Ingredients - Simple Steps for a Perfect Cake Batter:
Prepare Wet and Dry Ingredients:
- Take the bowl with the wet stuff (like oil, sugar, etc.).
- Slowly add the dry stuff (flour, spices, etc.) to the wet stuff.
Mix Little by Little:
- Don't dump everything in at once. Add a bit, mix, then add more. This avoids lumps and makes a smoother batter.
Use a Spatula:
- Use a flat cooking tool (a spatula) to gently fold the ingredients together. Be gentle so your cake stays light and fluffy.
No Big Flour Pockets:
- Keep stirring until you can't see big lumps of flour. We want everything to mix evenly for a yummy cake.
Make Sure It's Well Mixed:
- Mix until everything is nicely combined. This way, your cake will taste great and have a consistent texture. Happy baking!
Enhancing the Cake with Nuts:
Make your cake batter even tastier by adding a mix of nuts. Good choices include almonds, cashews, and walnuts.
Mixing Nuts into the Batter: Sprinkle these nuts into the batter you've already made.
Adding Cooked Fruits: Take the fruits you cooked earlier, like candied fruits, raisins, dried apricots, dried cranberries, and dried plums.
Adding to the Batter: Put most of these cooked fruits into the batter. This makes your cake sweet and fruity.
Keeping Some for the Top: But, keep a small amount aside. You'll use this later as a special topping for your cake.
Mixing Gently: Gently mix everything together. You want the nuts and fruits to be spread evenly in the batter.
Ready for Baking: Now, your batter is ready to go into the oven. This mix of nuts and fruits will give your cake a delicious taste and a great texture.
- Preheating the Oven:
Preheat the oven to 160°C to ensure the cake bakes at a slightly lower temperature, promoting even cooking without drying out.
- Putting the Batter in the Pan:
Get an 8-inch round pan and cover it with parchment paper. Now, carefully put the mixed batter into the pan, making sure it's spread out evenly. This step helps the cake cook just right and makes it easy to take out later.
- Baking the Cake:
Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake, allowing the cake to cook through evenly without losing moisture.
- Cooling the Cake:
After baking, take the cake out of the oven and let it cool down completely in the pan. This is important to make sure the cake stays in one piece and does not fall apart.
- Optional Topping:
If desired, top the cooled cake with the reserved cooked dried fruits, adding a decorative and flavorful touch.
- Enjoying the Christmas Plum Cake:
Indulge in the warm and festive aroma of the Christmas Plum Cake, a delightful treat perfect for spreading holiday cheer.
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