Orange Dried Fruit Fruitcake Recipes

Steps:

• Combine the raisins, currants, apricots, figs, prunes, dates, walnuts, pecans, orange zest, lemon zest, candied ginger, pumpkin pie spice and cloves in a large bowl and toss to combine. Add 1 cup of the brandy, orange liqueur and molasses and stir to coat. Cover and set aside to macerate overnight. (Alternatively, cover the bowl and microwave 2 minutes, or until very hot. Leave covered and let sit until almost all the liquid has been absorbed into the fruit and nuts, about 2 hours.)
• Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F. Spray two 9-by-5-inch loaf pans with nonstick cooking spray and line each with 2 pieces of parchment, one lengthwise and one crosswise, leaving a 2-inch overhang on each side. Spray the parchment with cooking spray.
• Sprinkle 1/2 cup flour over the soaked fruit mixture and toss to coat. Whisk together the remaining 1 1/2 cups flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a large bowl.
• Cream the butter and brown sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment on medium-high until light and fluffy, about 1 minute. Add the eggs, one at a time, making sure each is fully incorporated before adding the next and scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Beat in the vanilla. Reduce the speed to medium-low and beat in the flour mixture until the batter is blended and smooth. Pour the batter over the fruit mixture and fold with a rubber spatula until all the fruit is coated in batter.
• Divide the mixture evenly between the two prepared pans, filling each about 3/4 full. Bake until the cakes begin to pull away from the sides of the pans, the tops spring back slightly when pressed and a cake tester comes out clean, about 1 1/2 hours. Transfer to a wire rack and brush with the remaining 2 tablespoons brandy. Let the cakes cool in the pans for about 15 minutes. Carefully remove each cake from its pan using the parchment overhang and place on the rack to cool completely.
• To store, wrap each loaf tightly in plastic and then foil. The wrapped fruitcakes can be stored in a cool, dry place for up to 3 months.

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine first 9 ingredients. Bring to a boil over medium high heat, then reduce to low & cook 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat & cool to room temperature.
• Preheat oven to 275 degrees F, then grease & flour a 12-cup Bundt pan.
• In a large bowl, combine the next 6 ingredients which are dry, then stir in the lightly beaten eggs, the almond extract, and the cooled fruit mixture, & combine well.
• Spoon batter into the prepared Bundt pan & bake for at least 2 hours & 20 minutes. Toothpick in the center should come out clean.
• Cool in the pan on a wire rack for 20 minutes, then unmold onto a serving plate & cool completely.

Steps:

• Put raisins, golden raisins, cranberries, and cherries in a bowl. Pour rum and orange juice over the dried fruit. Set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Butter a loaf pan.
• Whisk brown rice flour, almond meal, potato and tapioca starches, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, cardamom, and ginger together in a bowl. Set aside 3 tablespoons of this mixture. Add baking powder to the larger portion; mix well.
• Combine orange zest, dates, figs, and 1/4 cup candied fruit in a bowl. Sprinkle in 2 tablespoons of the reserved flour mixture and toss to coat.
• Beat butter and sugar together with an electric mixer until creamy. Mix in vanilla. Add eggs one by one, beating after each addition. Mix in applesauce.
• Drain the dried fruit, reserving the soaking liquid. Add drained fruit to the fig mixture and toss with remaining 1 tablespoon reserved flour mixture.
• Mix soaking liquid into the butter mixture. Gradually add flour, stirring just until combined; do not overmix. Fold in hazelnuts, walnut halves, and pecan halves.
• Pour batter into the prepared loaf pan. Decorate the top with almonds and candied fruit slices.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour. Reduce oven temperature to 290 degrees F (145 degrees C). Continue baking until browned on top and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 30 minutes more.
• Remove from oven and let cool for at least 15 minutes before removing from pan. Brush cherry brandy on top. Let cake rest 24 hours for best results.

Steps:

• Grease and lightly flour an 8-inch fluted tube mold or, grease an 8x4x2-inch loaf pan; line pan with parchment paper, grease paper and set aside.
• Combine flour, baking powder, and baking soda; set aside.
• In a bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on medium speed for 30 seconds.
• Add the brown sugar; beat until mixture is combined.
• Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating on medium speed until combined (batter may appear curdled).
• Combine orange peel, juice, corn syrup, and vanilla.
• Add flour mixture and juice mixture alternately to butter mixture, beating on low speed after each addition just until combined.
• Combine fruits and nuts and fold into batter, spread into prepared pan.
• Bake in a 300 degree F oven about 1 hour in tube pan, about 1-1/2 hours in loaf pan, or until a wooden toothpick comes out clean.
• If necessary, cover cake with foil the last 15 to 30 minutes to prevent overbrowning.
• Cool cake in tube pan on wire rack 10 minutes.
• Remove from pan and cool thoroughly on rack. Or, thoroughly cool the cake in loaf pan on wire rack; remove from pan.
• Wrap cake in brandy- or juice- moistened 100-percent cotton cheesecloth.
• Wrap in foil.
• Store in refrigerator 2 to 8 weeks; remoisten cheesecloth about once a week or as needed.
• If desired, sprinkle with pearl sugar and garnish with orange-peel curls before slicing.

Steps:

• Combine dried fruits, candied ginger and both zests. Add rum and macerate overnight, or microwave for 5 minutes to re-hydrate fruit.
• Place fruit and liquid in a non-reactive pot with the sugar, butter, apple juice and spices. Bring mixture to a boil stirring often, then reduce heat and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat and cool for at least 15 minutes. (Batter can be completed up to this point, then covered and refrigerated for up to 2 days. Bring to room temperature before completing cake.)
• Heat oven to 325 degrees.
• Combine dry ingredients and sift into fruit mixture. Quickly bring batter together with a large wooden spoon, then stir in eggs one at a time until completely integrated, then fold in nuts. Spoon into a 10-inch non-stick loaf pan and bake for 1 hour. Check for doneness by inserting toothpick into the middle of the cake. If it comes out clean, it's done. If not, bake another 10 minutes, and check again.
• Remove cake from oven and place on cooling rack or trivet. Baste or spritz top with brandy and allow to cool completely before turning out from pan.
• When cake is completely cooled, seal in a tight sealing, food safe container. Every 2 to 3 days, feel the cake and if dry, spritz with brandy. The cake's flavor will enhance considerably over the next two weeks. If you decide to give the cake as a gift, be sure to tell the recipient that they are very lucky indeed.

Steps:

• Butter a 9x5x3 loaf pan.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees Farenheit.
• In a large saucepan, boil first 12 ingredients (brown sugar, water, butter, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, salt, orange peel and dried fruits) for 5 minutes.
• Remove from heat and allow to cool to lukewarm.
• Stir in two slightly beaten eggs.
• In a separate bowl mix together flour, salt and baking soda.
• Fold wet ingredients into dry and then add vanilla.
• Pour into prepared pan and bake 45 to 60 minutes until toothpick inserted into cake comes out clean.
• Optional: While still hot, douse with alcohol.
• Wrap and store a couple of days before serving.