New Zealand Christmas Fruit Cake Recipe
Introduction
Christmas is a wonderful time of the year and what better way to celebrate it than with a traditional New Zealand Christmas fruit cake. This delicious cake is full of plump raisins, currants, and dried fruit, and is made with a rich buttery cake batter. It is then topped off with a layer of marzipan and decorated with glazed cherries and holly. This classic New Zealand Christmas fruit cake recipe is the perfect way to add a festive touch to your holiday table.
Ingredients
For the cake batter:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) of butter, softened
- 2 cups of white sugar
- 4 eggs
- 3 cups of all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons of baking powder
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- 1 cup of milk
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 2 cups of raisins
- 1 cup of currants
- 1 cup of dried fruit
For the marzipan topping:
- 2 cups of almond paste
- 1/2 cup of white sugar
- 1 teaspoon of almond extract
- 1/4 cup of water
For the glazed cherries and holly:
- 1/2 cup of apricot jam
- 1/2 cup of glazed cherries
- 1/2 cup of holly leaves
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line two 9-inch round cake pans with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract.
3. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Add to the creamed mixture alternately with the milk, mixing just until incorporated. Fold in the raisins, currants, and dried fruit.
4. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow to cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack and cool completely.
5. To prepare the marzipan topping, combine the almond paste, sugar, almond extract, and water in a food processor and pulse until smooth. Spread the marzipan topping over the cooled cakes.
6. To prepare the glazed cherries and holly, heat the apricot jam in a saucepan over medium heat until melted. Allow to cool slightly, then brush the melted jam over the marzipan topping. Arrange the glazed cherries and holly leaves over the top of the cake.
7. Slice and serve. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Each serving of New Zealand Christmas Fruit Cake contains approximately 400 calories, 19 grams of fat, 56 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of protein, and 3 grams of fiber.
Storage
This cake will keep for up to five days if stored in an airtight container at room temperature. Alternatively, it can be frozen for up to three months.
Conclusion
New Zealand Christmas Fruit Cake is a classic holiday treat that is sure to be a hit with family and friends. This delicious cake is full of plump raisins, currants, and dried fruit, and is topped off with a layer of marzipan and decorated with glazed cherries and holly. This recipe is easy to make and is the perfect way to add a festive touch to your holiday table.
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