Recipe of Fruitcake ‘Delite’

Recipe featured in MYB on 19 Dec07


This recipe is take a little more effort to bake but it's really worth it!
Yield 9 inch loaf tin

I love baking this lite fruit cakes as a Christmas gift for my love ones. Traditionally, fruitcakes are very rich and dense cakes made with lots of butter, sugar, eggs and dried mixed fruits. At 300-500 calories a slice, it is a very 'naughty' cake. I'm so glad i have created a lighter version by reducing the amount of sugar, eggs and sweet dried fruits. Instead of the usual blend of mixed fruits, i have my own medley of dried fruits such as apricots, raisins and cranberries plus some walnuts. One other trick here is to whisk up a meringue and fold into the cake mixture at the last step. The result is a lovely light fruitcake that’s bursting with fruity fragrance and bound to delight till the last bite!


To make it a great Christmas gift,
wrap your fruit cake in dolly paper
for a simple and elegant look

A close up look

These beauties just came out of the oven




Tanning in process




Ready to bake




Folding in egg white meringe is the key to a fluffy & light cake



Ingredients:
40g Raisin
40g Dried cranberry
40g Dried apricot (sliced thinly)
Juice and zest from half an orange
85g unsalted butter (at room temp)
40g Sugar
5 Egg yolk
5 Egg white
90g Sugar
170g Cake Flour (sifted)
1/4 (Quater) teaspoon Baking powder
60g Walnut (coarsely chopped)




Method
1. Soak dried fruits and zest in orange juice for about 1 hour

2. Pre-heat oven to 175°C and line the bottom of the loaf tin with grease-proof paper

3. Cream butter and sugar until white and creamy. Add yolks one at a time(make sure each yolk is well incorporated before adding the next one) and fold in the dried fruits

4. Put flour, baking powder and walnuts in a bowl

5. Whisk egg whites and 90g of sugar until firm peak stage (meringue)

6. Gently fold in flour mixture and meringue alternately into the creamed mixture. Pour into loaf tin and bake for 35 to 45 mins (until cake turns golden brown



Tip:
Create your own unique fruitcake by concocting your own medley of dried fruits such as dried apples, figs or prunes.