Moist Christmas Cake No Added Sugar Or Fat Recipes

Steps:

• Line base and sides of 20cm squared cake tin with paper.
• Place mixed fruit, apricots, undrained pineapple, orange juice and spice in a saucepan.
• Bring slowly to boil, simmer uncovered 2-3 minutes, remove from heat.
• Cover and allow to cool.
• Stir egg yolks (optional) and soda into fruit mixture.
• Whip egg whites stiffly in large bowl.
• Fold in fruit mixture, then fold in flour, making a firm mixture.
• Spread into cake tin, bake in moderate oven (160c) for 1 1/2 hours.
• Cover the hot cake with foil and allow to cool in the pan.
• On special occasions, you may decorate the top with glace cherries and a few almonds.
• Take care- all nuts have a high fat content.
• The pineapple can be replaced by 3/4 cup water and 1 cup mashed pumpkin.
• or 3/4 cup water and 1 cup pureed pie apricots Add the pumpkin or apricots after the fruit mixture has cooled.
• The water is added to the dried fruit so it can be boiled.

Steps:

• Put 1kg mixed dried fruit, the zest and juice of 1 orange and 1 lemon, 150ml brandy or other alcohol, 250g softened butter and 200g light, soft brown sugar in a large pan set over a medium heat.
• Bring to the boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 5 mins. Tip the fruit mixture into a large bowl and leave to cool for 30 mins.
• Heat oven to 150C/130C fan/gas 2. Line a deep 20cm cake tin with a double layer of baking parchment, then wrap a double layer of newspaper around the outside - tie with string to secure.
• Add 175g plain flour, 100g ground almonds, ½ tsp baking powder, 2 tsp mixed spice, 1 tsp ground cinnamon, ¼ tsp ground cloves, 100g flaked almonds, 4 large eggs and 1 tsp vanilla extract to the fruit mixture and stir well, making sure there are no pockets of flour.
• Tip into your prepared tin, level the top with a spatula and bake in the centre of the oven for 2 hrs.
• Remove the cake from the oven, poke holes in it with a skewer and spoon over 2 tbsp of your chosen alcohol. Leave the cake to cool completely in the tin.
• To store, peel off the baking parchment, then wrap well in cling film. Feed the cake with 1-2 tbsp alcohol every fortnight, until you ice it.
• Don't feed the cake for the final week to give the surface a chance to dry before icing.

Steps:

• Put the dried fruit, cherries and brandy in a large bowl and stir well to combine and set aside overnight to marinate.
• Preheat oven to 140C (fan forced) or 150C conventional.
• Spray a 18cm (base measurement) square cake pan with cooking spray and then line base and sides with 2 layers of baking/parchment paper, allowing paper to reach 5 cm above the top.
• Place oven rack so top of pan is positioned in the centre of the oven.
• Put eggs , apple puree and spread in a medium bowl and whisk well together and then add to the fruit mixture and mix until well combined.
• Sift flours, cocoa powder, mixed spice and cinnamon into a small bowl, returning any husks from the sieve to the bowl.
• Add flour mixture to the fruit mixture and mix until well combined.
• Spoon mixture into the prepared cake pan pressing firmly into corners with the back of a spoon and smooth surface.
• Drop or tap cake pan onto the bench a few times to settle the mix and then push almonds lightly into the top of the cake in the pattern of your choice.
• Cover the cake pan with a piece of foil and bake for 1 hour, remove the foil and bake for a further 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 hours or until a skewer inserted into centre of the cake comes out clean and the cake is firm to the touch in the middle.
• Trim the overhanging baking paper and then wrap cake , still in the cake pan in 2 clean tea towels to keep it moist as it cools.
• Set aside overnight to cool completely.
• Remove from pan and dust with icing sugar if you like to serve.
• You can chop the fruit in a food processor, using the pulse button.
• This cake will keep for up to 1 month in an airtight container.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour one 10 inch bundt or tube pan.
• In a saucepan combine raisins with water and cook until the water is absorbed, cool.
• Combine eggs, applesauce, vegetable oil, vanilla, and liquid sweetener. Mix well. Sift flour, baking soda, salt, ground cinnamon, and ground nutmeg into egg mixture. Stir until just combined. Mix in raisins and chopped nuts. Pour batter into prepared pan.
• Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for one hour.

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, combine cherries, citrus peel, raisins, currants, dates, and almonds. Stir in brandy; let stand 2 hours, or overnight. Dredge soaked fruit with 1/2 cup flour.
• Preheat oven to 275 degrees F (135 degrees C). Grease an 8x8x3 inch fruit cake pan, line with parchment paper, and grease again. In a small bowl, mix together 2 cups flour, baking soda, cloves, allspice, cinnamon, and salt; set aside.
• In a large bowl, cream butter until light. Gradually blend in brown sugar and eggs. Mix together molasses and apple juice. Beat into butter mixture alternately with flour mixture, making 4 dry and 3 liquid additions. Fold in floured fruit. Turn batter into prepared pan.
• Bake in preheated oven for 3 to 3 1/2 hours, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of cake comes out clean. Remove from pan, and lift off paper. Cool cake completely, then wrap loosely in waxed paper. Store in an airtight container.