Go Back
Print Pin

No Fruit, Nutty Christmas Cake

Ingredients

  • 1 c dark muscovado sugar i used demerara
  • 1 c unsalted butter softened
  • 4 medium eggs
  • 2/3 c applesauce
  • 2 tbs cocoa
  • 1 c flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon allspice
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/3 c dark rum or booze of choice
  • 100 g walnut halves chopped
  • 100 g slivered almonds
  • 100 g brazil nuts chopped
  • 100 g pecans chopped

Instructions

  • Spray 2 tins with Baking Pam. Place on a baking sheet. Preheat oven to 300°F.
  • Mix flour, other dry ingredients, and spices and set aside.
  • Beat the butter and sugar together in a large bowl until pale and fluffy.
  • Beat in the eggs one at a time, until well combined.
  • Add applesauce and mix.
  • Add half the dry mix, mixing until just combined
  • Add half the liquor of choice and mix until well combined.
  • Add the remaining half the dry mix, mixing until just combined
  • Add the remaining half the liquor of choice and mix until well combined.
  • Fold in the nuts / cherries.
  • Spoon into the prepared tins. Tent the tins with tinfoil. Make sure to TENT slightly and not cover them flatly as the cakes will rise
  • Bake for about 2 1⁄2 hours.
  • Uncover, baste with more rum/whiskey, and bake for a further 30 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean. Remove from the oven and cool in tin.
  • Once cooled, baste all over with rum/whiskey (removed from the tins). Wrap in parchment paper then tinfoil, store in fridge, basting once a week. When ready to serve, feel free to use topping of choice.

Notes

NOTE 1: For a small amount of fruit, both the hubby and I like pitted cherries. Use 75gm of the four nuts, instead of 100gm.
Drain the syrup from a 398ml can of pitted dark cherries, place in a jar and cover with the booze of choice. Let sit overnight. Strain the liquor off, setting aside to use in the cake batter. Give a rough chop and add with the nuts.
NOTE 2: If using mini pans, bake for 1 1/4 hours, remove the tents, bake for an additional 15 minutes (until a skewer comes out clean).
NOTE 3: For the spices (nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, allspice) feel free to use more or less as desired.