Merry Christmas to all! Two days ago I was browsing the Joy of Baking site for some inspiration to bake something new. I found this dried fruit and nut quick bread recipe. I've always wanted to bake a rich Christmas fruitcake, and this recipe fit the bill because it uses only very little flour and is fully loaded with dried fruits and nuts. Another interesting thing, it does not require any oil or butter. Yes it's true, no oil or butter absolutely. It's also dairy free. The only thing I had to change was to use an egg substitute. Since it's a fruitcake I decided to use applesauce to replace the eggs in the recipe. Also there is no other ingredient in the recipe to moisten it, so I added ¼ cup of water and additional ¼ teaspoon of baking soda to compensate the eggs.
Another change I made was using a 13X9 inch baking pan instead of a loaf pan and also increased the oven temperature. The time mentioned to bake the bread was 60-75 minutes. Yesterday I found time to bake only at 10pm and I didn't want to spend 1 hour for a single fruitcake, when I had plans to bake cranberry shortbread bars also, both to be gifted to the firefighters and others before Christmas. So I decided to use a 13X9 inch pan, which definitely was wise because the fruitcake was done around 35 minutes itself. This was also very convenient to cut them into small pieces.
I also flavored the fruitcake with Supreme Spice's Tea Masala Extract. For long time now I have wanted to try spice extracts, finally ordered it last week and got my shipment of Tea Masala Extract, Kesar Milk Extract and Tulsi Extract. The tea masala extract is my absolute favorite now. You have to try it to believe it. It transforms your ordinary tea into something exotic and it's especially refreshing in this gloomy weather these days.
Tea masala extract is a blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cardamom, clove and pepper, which I thought would be perfect to pair with this fruitcake. At first I added 5 drops of the extract to the dough, but felt that it was not enough and so added another 5 drops and mixed the dough well. While the cake was baking the kitchen was filled with so much aroma of the spices, which made me think If I had gone overboard my adding 10 drops. I couldn't wait until it was cool enough to cut it and have a bite. Anyway I let it cool on a wire rack overnight and cut them today. But by then the pungency of the spices had reduced and the cake tasted very good with the flavor of the spice extract in the background.
Recipe
Vegan Christmas Fruitcake Recipe
Ingredients
- ¾ Cup All Purpose Flour
- ½ Teaspoon Baking Soda
- ¼ Teaspoon Baking Powder
- ¼ Teaspoon Salt
- ¾ Cup Light Brown Sugar
- 3 Cups Chopped Dried Fruits (Any Combination)
- 3 Cups Chopped Nuts (Any Nuts)
- ¾ Cup Applesauce (Instead Of 3 Eggs)
- ¼ Cup Water
- 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 5 To 10 Drops Tea Masala Extract (Optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven at 375F for 15 minutes.
- Grease and dust a 13x9 inch pan with little flour.
- In a large bowl whisk together all purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and light brown sugar.
- Also add the chopped dried fruits and nuts of your choice. Make sure that the dried fruits are not lumped together. Use your fingers mix it thoroughly.
- In a liquid measuring mug, measure ¾th cup of applesauce. Add the vanilla extract, ¼ cup water and tea masala extract (if using). Whisk it nicely.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix it well. Since it's a lot of dried fruits and nuts, chances are the flour mixture in the bottom may not be combined well.
- Spread the batter into the prepared pan and use a spatula to evenly press it.
- Bake for the 30 minutes at 375F. When I inserted a toothpick in the center it was almost done and it had started to become golden brown. I wanted to bake it for another 5 minutes, but I worried if the cake would become very dark, so I reduced the temperature to 300F and baked it for 5 more minutes.
- Once out of the oven, leave the pan on a wire rack and let it cool completely before cutting it. I inverted the fruitcake on a big cookie sheet and then cut them into pieces. This cake will store for months in the refrigerator.
My Notes
- Any combination of nuts and dried fruits can be used in this fruitcake. The only thing to be followed is that it should be 3 cups of nuts and 3 cups of dried fruits. I used 1 cup each of walnuts, pecans and sliced almonds. For dried fruits, I used ½ cup each of raisins, dried cranberries, dates, apricots and 1 cup of dried and sliced figs.
- Let the fruitcake cool completely in the pan before inverting it. I was not patient enough and turned it over and the cake broke into 2 pieces. Fortunately I was able to patch it up. So I would suggest cooling it overnight.
This Christmas fruitcake recipe goes to:
1. Egg Replacement Event - Pureed Fruit hosted by me.
2. Baking for Beginners hosted by Vandana.
3. Homemade Christmas Gift hosted by Happy Cook &
4. Santa's Holiday Challenge hosted by JZ.
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Chrissy says
If I want to use spices instead of extract, how much should I use?
Madhuram says
You can use a combination of ground cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. Maybe 1/2 teaspoon of each.
Karuna Nair says
I don't have a 13 x 9 in baking tray. What other size cake tin can I use?
Madhuram says
What size pans do you have? If you 8 or 9-inch pans, you can use 2 of those.
Karuna Nair says
Yes I hv these 2 pan’s sizes as well as as a 10in pan. I could bake it in the 10in pan right?
Madhuram says
One 10 inch pan will not be enough, Karuna.
manu says
Can I substitute all purpose flour with wheat flour?
Madhuram says
Yes it should be fine.
Abirami says
Good Day!
I would like to try this recipe. Is it possible to use cake and pastry flour in place of all purpose flour for this fruitcake recipe.
Thank you.
Madhuram says
Yes it should work out fine Abirami.
SAPNA says
I love your baking stuff a lot.You have changed the world of eggless cooking and baking.Wonderful!!
If I want to bake this cake with orange juice and rum how do I coo it??? And would like to make in a loaf and bundt for the gift.So can you pls guide me what will be the cooking timings as it will vary and at what temp??
Madhuram says
Thanks for the compliments Sapna. I have not baked a fruitcake using rum but I have seen a couple of recipes using the same. I think the dried fruit is soaked either in orange juice or rum for a couple of days before baking the fruitcake. Take the idea from any such recipe to see how long you have to soak, or if you have to boil the juice/rum along with the dried fruits and proceed to make the cake as I have instructed. I'm thinking it would take easily take 45-60 minutes or even more. Same for bundt cake too. You don't need to change the temperature but increase the baking time. Check once after 45 minutes and then keep increasing the baking time accordingly. But you will have to loosely cover the cake/pan with aluminium foil so that the top does not brown. You could do this after 30 minutes maybe.
Heather says
Thank you so much for posting this. My Mother in law is coming for Christmas and loves fruit cake. But my daughter is allergic to eggs. I am going to make this!
Madhuram says
You're welcome Heather. You could try soaking the dried fruits in orange juice and add some orange zest with the batter for more flavorful fruitcake. That's what I'm going to try this time.
Lana says
Here is a super healthy fruit cake recipe that I found on the internet. I have made these many many times and also taste great.
Fruit Cake:
3 cups chopped dry fruits
2 cups orange juice
2 cups whole wheat flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
dash of cardamom or cinnamon
Pour orange juice in a deep container and add fruits. Leave covered in the fridge overnight.
Mix flour, baking powder and cardamom. Add to fruit mixture.
Pour into greased loaf pan and bake at 300F for about 55-60 minutes. (makes 4 mini loaves)
Cool on racks.
Madhuram says
I'm definitely trying this Lana. Thanks for sharing.
Kristin says
Would it be okay to use all whole grain flour in this recipe?
Madhuram says
Yes Kristin. I have tried whole wheat pastry flour in the same recipe and it did turn out as good as this one. http://www.egglesscooking.com/2009/04/02/eggless-fruit-nuts-bars/
Nandini says
hi Madhu
i was wondering whr can i get applesauce in bangalore .. many
of ur recipes use applesauce n i have been searching for a long
time now ... or is thr any substitute for the applesauce i can use ????
Madhuram says
You can make applesauce at home Nandini. Just peel apples, remove the core, cut into pieces, add just enough water to cook them and cook it either or stove top or microwave oven and blend it into smooth paste.
Nandini says
thank u 🙂 .. will try that soon .. can it be
refrigerated though?? i guess having it done in advance
is way better than preparing it every time
Madhuram says
But I don't know how long it will keep good.
JC says
So sorry... I was just too excited to send my question.. I found the info in your 2nd paragraph:
'Another change I made was using a 13X9 inch baking pan instead of a loaf pan and also increased the oven temperature. The time mentioned to bake the bread was 60-75 minutes.'
🙂
No problem JC.
JC says
Hi,
This is a great recipe! I'm excited to try it out soon 🙂
I just have 1 question. You used 13x9 pan and baked it at 375F for 30 mins. What will be the temp and time if I use a loaf pan? sorry, that's 2 questions 🙂
Thank you for sharing this recipe.
Jane says
😛 This cake is a dream..Its so delicious and moist..Words cant say how lovely this cake is..I squeezed in some fresh orange juice and some grated rind..added to the already lovely flavour..Made today...yummmmy
Yes Jane, the taste is unbelievable for a vegan cake. I'm very happy that you liked it too and the additions you have made surely sounds very good.
nithya says
Hi,..\there is fan of yrs who tld tht they used yoghurt instead of apple sauce, can i know how much measure shud i use?
Nithya I have tried the same recipe using buttermilk. Use 3/4th cup of butter milk or half cup yogurt mixed with 1/4 water. Find the recipe below
http://www.egglesscooking.com/2009/04/02/eggless-fruit-nuts-bars/
Fayinagirl says
Vegan fruit cake looks yummy! I'm going to try this recipe. The kids will be so excited!
Ramya says
Dear Madhu, I tried out this cake yesterday with just 1/3 proportion of all ingredients since I was'nt sure if it would come out well. I used yoghurt instead of the apple sauce and omitted the tea masala since I dint have it at home. The cake turned out very good, my family loved it. I would increase the quantity of nuts and reduce fruit since it was too sweet for me. Otherwise this recipe is a keeper!
Thankyou so much!
Ramya, thank you very much for your feedback. Tea masala is purely optional, you could simply use vanilla extract. It's nice to know that yogurt also works fine. Even though I know that yogurt is an egg substitute, I've not tried it before.
Vaishali says
My hubby Desi has been pestering me to make a fruitcake, for some reason, but I don't love them and have been reluctant. Your version looks delicious, Madhuram, and I'm so glad you posted this vegan recipe.
By the way, am so glad to see all these vegan recipes on your blog. Makes me want to give you a big hug!
Thank you very much Vaishali. It uses just 3/4 th cup of flour, I wish I had used whole wheat pastry flour itself. Have a spectacular New Year.
Priya says
Wow vegan fruit cake looks yummy n delicious...Happy Holidays..
Thanks Priya.
anudivya says
Tea masala extract seems like a great idea! Love it... Happy Holidays!
ambika says
Looks just like the one that my husband got from shop... wow! u r amazing madhu.i could't taste that as it had egg but i am happy to see ur eggless recipe....now i can also try them .thanks madhu
Uma says
looks fabulous and tempting! Happy holidays Madhu!
jayasree says
Lovely vegan fruit cake, you have come up with. Just want to grab a piece from the screen.
Happy holidays.
Cham says
I love the way it is vegan 😛
Purnima says
Wow..u r one experimenting chef/baker! Trust me -when I looked at the pic same words floated in my mind..less flour,more dry fruits n as I began to read, my thoughts were worded! Read the notes too..very good try n lovely directions! HAPPY CHRISTMAS to you n your near ones!
Thank you very much Purnima.
rekha says
oooohh wow that looks awesome so many nuts very helthy too
Sweatha.j says
Perfect FruitBread.HAPPY HOLIDAYS
Bharti says
Tea masala in fruitcake sounds very unique and exciting. I won't be around for a few days, so here's wishing you a brilliant 2009 dear Madhu.
sowmya says
The cake looks good..one of these days, I have to try your vegan cakes..they look so pretty..
Soma says
Very different. Nice way of flavoring it. I too posted a fruit cake today! Yours as usuall is a great healthy one.
krystyna says
Yummy, yummy and healthy!
Just what I was looking for.
Thank you so sooo much!
If you don't mind
I'll be glad to put this yummy pic/fruitcake on my blogsite
with your link?
I wish you a Very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Laavanya says
Oh that looks so tempting and awesome...
Madhu / Ruchii says
I like vegan cake recipes, Your blog for baked goodies is the best..Like the cake with fruits and nuts looks yummy..
Happy holidays to you too...