Figgie Fruitcake Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray two 8-inch round cake pans with vegetable oil spray.
• In a medium bowl, sift together flour, salt and baking powder. Set aside.
• In a large mixing bowl, cream butter with the sugar until fluffy. Add egg and beat well. Add flour mixture alternately with the evaporated milk. Fold in vanilla and almond extracts and 1 cup chopped figs.
• Divide into two prepared 8-inch round cake pans. Bake in preheated oven until cake springs back when lightly touched with a fingertip and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool cake layers on wire rack.
• To make the filling: In a saucepan, combine 2 cups chopped figs, brown sugar, water and lemon juice. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook until thickened, about 20 minutes. Spread thinly between cooled cake layers and on top.

Steps:

• For the fruitcake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line the bottom of two 10-inch cake pans with parchment paper.
• In a mixing bowl using an electric hand mixer, whip together the oil, granulated sugar and eggs until the mixture lightens in color. Sift together the flour, cinnamon, baking soda and baking powder. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, and mix until just combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl to make sure nothing is stuck. Fold in the coconut, pecans, dates, bananas and pineapples, being careful to avoid over-mixing. Divide the batter between the prepared cake pans and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 30 to 40 minutes.
• Cool the cakes.
• For the icing: In a medium bowl using an electric hand mixer, mix the cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add the confectioners' sugar, vanilla seeds and rum to taste, and mix until smooth.
• Place one of the cakes on a serving plate and use half of the icing to cover the top. Place the second cake on top and cover the top with the remaining icing. Sprinkle toasted coconut flakes over the cake to serve.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Grease an 8 x 4-inch loaf pan and line the bottom with parchment or wax paper.
• Place the raisins and sherry in a small saucepan and heat gently for 5 minutes so the raisins will absorb the sherry. Remove from the heat and stir in the cherries and 3 tablespoons of the ground almonds. Set aside.
• In a separate bowl, cream the butter and sugar until fluffy. Beat in the egg yolks and almond extract, and stir in the remaining ground almonds. Fold in the raisins and cherries.
• Beat the egg whites until they form stiff peaks and fold gently into the cherry batter with a large metal spoon.
• Pour into the prepared pan and bake for about 1 hour, or until a skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean. Cool in the loaf pan. If desired, turn the cooled cake over, poke a few holes in the bottom, and drizzle it with a few tablespoons of sweet sherry. Store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

Steps:

• In a medium sized bowl mix together the raisins, currants, cherries, apricots, walnuts, lemon zest and brandy. Cover and allow to macerate, covered in the refrigerator for at least 24 hours and up to 7 days, stirring occasionally. Drain off any excess liquid before making batter. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour two 9 by 5-inch loaf pans. In an electric mixer cream the butter and the brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time and beat well. Sift together the dry ingredients and toss 1/2-cup of this mixture with the fruits. Add the remainder of the dry ingredients in 2 batches to the butter mixture, alternating with the orange juice and brandy. Beat until incorporated. Fold in the floured fruits and spoon batter equally into the prepared pans. Bake for 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour and a half or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Steps:

• For the financiers: In a medium bowl, add the apricots, blueberries, cherries, cranberries, orange rind and liqueur. Set aside to rehydrate the fruit.
• In a pot, melt the butter until browned and aromatic. Drain the hydrated fruit and reserve the hydrating liquid for a later use. In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix the fruit, brown butter, almond flour, egg whites, all-purpose flour and confectioners' sugar until fully incorporated. Chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Transfer the batter to a pastry bag and pipe into the financier molds. Bake until golden brown, 10 minutes.
• For the glaze: In a pot, add the orange juice, sugar and 500 grams (17 2/3 ounces) of the reserved hydrating liquid. Bring to a boil and then remove from the heat. Dip the financier cakes in the warm glaze, and then serve.

Steps:

• Combine figs, raisins, dates, pears & pineapple in a large bowl with the sherry. Marinate overnight at room temp covered with plastic wrap.
• The next day, simmer apricots in nectar 10 minutes & then cool. Drain marinated fruits (save sherry!) & add apricots after draining (add nectar to drained sherry).
• Grease & line bottom of 5 baby loaf pans (5 5/8 x 3 1/4 x 1 7/8 inch) with brown paper (grease again after laying paper in pans). I have used a 12 cup bundt pan with good results - increasing cooking time by 30 minutes & then checking with toothpick.
• Sift together 1 1/2 cups flour, baking powder & cinnamon.
• In a large mixing bowl, cream butter & sugar until light & fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add Lemon extract or zest & vanilla & mix. Add flour, baking powder & cinnamon to wet ingredients & mix lightly to make batter.
• Using remaining 1/4 cups of flour to dredge fruits & nuts in a separate bowl.
• Add fruit & nuts to batter & blend well.
• Pour into prepared pans & place in COLD oven on middle rack. Put a pan of cold water in bottom of oven & turn oven on to 250 degrees F.
• Bake 2 hours until golden & tester comes out clean. Cool cakes on wire rack. Remove brown paper while still warm.
• Wrap each fruitcake in cheesecloth moistened with sherry/nectar & then in heavy weight aluminum foil.
• Refrigerate 2 to 4 weeks, moistening with sherry when cheesecloth seems to be getting dry.
• For gift-giving, overwrap with red cellophane & top with a bow.