Christmas Plum Cake

Ingredients

For Soaking:

Mixed fruits – 2.5 cups
Rum/Brandy - 1 cups

For Caramel:


Sugar - ½ cup
Water - 1 tbsp
Warm water - ¼ cup

For Cake:


Plain flour (maida) - 2 cups
Baking powder - 1¼ tsp
Baking soda - ½ tsp
Brown Sugar - 1 cup (You can replace this with regular white sugar)
Unsalted Butter - 250 gms  @ room temp
Eggs - 4 @ room temp
Vanilla essence - 2 tsp
Jam - 1 tbsp
Cashew- 10-20 pieces(optional)


For Spice Powder:


Cloves - 2
Cardamom – 2
Bayleaf -1
Cinnamon - a small piece
Nutmeg - a small piece
Sugar – 2 tsp

Method:

Soaking of Fruits
I used a combination of sultanas, currants, tutti frooti, prunes, dates  & candied orange & lemon peel. If you are using apricots, prunes etc., chop it into small bit size pieces & soak it. For the first batch, I soaked it for 2 weeks only.  Try to soak it for a at least 1 week. Shake or stir the jar/container of soaked fruits once in a while.
 

Caramel Preparation:
Combine ½ cup sugar & 1 tbsp water in a sauce pan. Heat it & let the sugar melt. When the color of the melted sugar becomes dark brown, remove the pan from fire & add ¼ cup hot water to this. You need to be very careful at this stage since the water tends to splash & can cause burns. Bring it back to the heat & boil for a few more mins, 3-4 mins. Remove from fire & let it cool completely.

Spice Powder:

Grind all the spices and sugar to a fine powder & keep aside.

Cake Preparation:

Preheat the oven @ 180 C for 10-15 mins, before baking.

Drain the soaked fruits & keep aside. Retain 2-4 tbsp from the drained liquor. Toss the drained fruits in 2 tbsp of flour. (This will prevent the fruits from sinking to the bottom of the cake).

Sift the plain flour with baking powder & baking soda. If using white sugar, powder the sugar & keep aside(If using brown sugar this step can be omitted).

Separate the yolks & white of the eggs. Beat egg whites till soft peaks form. Keep aside. Beat the egg yolks & add the softened butter to it. Beat it till it forms a smooth paste. Add powdered sugar to this, gradually. Beat after each addition. When it becomes smooth add vanilla essence & cooled caramel & spice powder & beat again. Add the sifted flour in 2 batches. Beat after each addition. Add jam & combine.

Fold in the beaten egg whites in 2 parts & combine till no white streaks are visible. Fold in the soaked fruits & 2 tbsp of retained liquor.

Grease the baking dish & line with baking paper. Pour the batter into the prepared tins. Decorate it with cashew and bake in the pre heated oven for 45-50 mins or until the skewer inserted comes out clean. The baking time can vary depending on the oven & also the size of the tin used.

Using this batter I made 2 rectangle cakes and an 8" round cake.