Hello, Good News! Welcome to our blog, where we share with you the best recipes, tips, and tricks for baking amazing cakes. In this article, we will show you how to make a delicious stirred fruit cake, a classic dessert that is perfect for any occasion. Whether you want to impress your guests, treat your family, or simply enjoy a slice of cake with a cup of tea, this recipe will not disappoint you.
Stirred fruit cake is a type of cake that is made by mixing dried fruits, nuts, spices, and sometimes alcohol into a batter. The cake is then baked in a low oven for a long time, resulting in a moist, rich, and flavorful cake that can last for weeks or even months. Stirred fruit cake is also known as boiled fruit cake, because some recipes require boiling the fruits and sugar in water or juice before adding them to the batter.
What You Need to Make a Stirred Fruit Cake
Ingredients
To make a stirred fruit cake, you will need the following ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups (375 ml) of water or orange juice
- 1 cup (200 g) of brown sugar
- 250 g of butter
- 1 kg of mixed dried fruits (such as raisins, currants, sultanas, cherries, apricots, dates, etc.)
- 2 teaspoons of mixed spice (such as cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, ginger, etc.)
- 1/4 teaspoon of salt
- 2 eggs, lightly beaten
- 2 cups (250 g) of self-raising flour
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) of brandy or rum (optional)
Equipment
To make a stirred fruit cake, you will need the following equipment:
- A large saucepan
- A wooden spoon
- A 20 cm (8 inch) round or square cake tin
- Baking paper
- A skewer or a toothpick
- A wire rack
- A pastry brush (optional)
How to Make a Stirred Fruit Cake
Step 1: Preheat the Oven and Prepare the Cake Tin
The first step to make a stirred fruit cake is to preheat the oven to 150°C (300°F) and prepare the cake tin. To do this, you need to grease the cake tin with some butter and line it with baking paper. Make sure the paper extends about 5 cm (2 inches) above the rim of the tin. This will help prevent the cake from burning or drying out during baking.
Step 2: Boil the Fruits and Sugar
The next step to make a stirred fruit cake is to boil the fruits and sugar in water or juice. To do this, you need to combine the water or juice, the brown sugar, the butter, the mixed dried fruits, the mixed spice, and the salt in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring the mixture to a boil and then reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat and let it cool slightly.
Step 3: Add the Eggs and Flour
The third step to make a stirred fruit cake is to add the eggs and flour to the fruit mixture. To do this, you need to stir in the eggs with a wooden spoon until well combined. Then sift in the flour and fold it gently into the mixture until well incorporated. You should have a thick and sticky batter.
Step 4: Spoon the Batter into the Cake Tin and Bake
The fourth step to make a stirred fruit cake is to spoon the batter into the prepared cake tin and bake it in the preheated oven. To do this, you need to level the surface of the batter with a spatula or a knife and make a slight indentation in the center. This will help the cake rise evenly and prevent cracking. Bake the cake for about 2 hours or until a skewer or a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Step 5: Brush with Brandy or Rum and Cool on a Wire Rack
The final step to make a stirred fruit cake is to brush it with some brandy or rum and cool it on a wire rack. To do this, you need to pierce the top of the hot cake with a skewer or a toothpick and brush it with some brandy or rum if you like. This will add some extra flavor and moisture to the cake. Then let the cake cool completely in the tin on a wire rack before removing it from the tin and peeling off the paper.
A Table Breakdown of Stirred Fruit Cake Recipe
To help you understand the stirred fruit cake recipe better, here is a table breakdown of the ingredients, equipment, steps, and tips for making this delicious cake.
| Ingredients | Equipment | Steps | Tips |
| — | — | — | — |
| Water or orange juice | A large saucepan | Preheat the oven and prepare the cake tin | Grease the cake tin and line it with baking paper |
| Brown sugar | A wooden spoon | Boil the fruits and sugar | Simmer the mixture for 10 minutes |
| Butter | A 20 cm (8 inch) round or square cake tin | Add the eggs and flour | Sift in the flour and fold it gently |
| Mixed dried fruits | Baking paper | Spoon the batter into the cake tin and bake | Make a slight indentation in the center of the batter |
| Mixed spice | A skewer or a toothpick | Brush with brandy or rum and cool on a wire rack | Pierce the top of the hot cake and brush it with some brandy or rum |
| Salt | A wire rack | | Let the cake cool completely in the tin |
| Eggs | A pastry brush (optional) | | |
| Self-raising flour | | | |
| Brandy or rum (optional) | | | |
FAQs about Stirred Fruit Cake
What is the difference between stirred fruit cake and fruitcake?
Stirred fruit cake and fruitcake are both types of cakes that contain dried fruits, nuts, spices, and sometimes alcohol. However, stirred fruit cake is made by boiling the fruits and sugar in water or juice before adding them to the batter, while fruitcake is made by soaking the fruits in alcohol or juice for several hours or days before adding them to the batter. Stirred fruit cake is also baked in a low oven for a long time, while fruitcake is baked in a moderate oven for a shorter time.
How long does stirred fruit cake last?
Stirred fruit cake can last for weeks or even months if stored properly. To store stirred fruit cake, you need to wrap it tightly in foil or plastic wrap and keep it in an airtight container in a cool and dry place. You can also refrigerate or freeze stirred fruit cake for longer shelf life. To thaw frozen stirred fruit cake, you need to let it sit at room temperature for several hours before serving.
How can I make stirred fruit cake more moist?
There are several ways to make stirred fruit cake more moist. One way is to brush it with some brandy or rum after baking, as this will add some extra flavor and moisture to the cake. Another way is to add some apple sauce, yogurt, sour cream, or buttermilk to the batter, as this will make the cake more tender and moist. A third way is to cover the cake with a layer of marzipan or fondant, as this will seal in the moisture and prevent the cake from drying out.
Can I use fresh fruits instead of dried fruits for stirred fruit cake?
It is not recommended to use fresh fruits instead of dried fruits for stirred fruit cake, as fresh fruits have more water content and can make the cake soggy or mushy. Dried fruits have less water content and can absorb more liquid from the batter, resulting in a moist and rich cake. If you want to use fresh fruits for stirred fruit cake, you need to chop them finely and coat them with some flour to prevent them from sinking to the bottom of the cake.
What are some variations of stirred fruit cake?
There are many variations of stirred fruit cake that you can try, depending on your preference and taste. Some examples are:
- Chocolate stirred fruit cake: Add some cocoa powder and chocolate chips to the batter for a chocolatey twist.
- Lemon stirred fruit cake: Add some lemon zest and juice to the batter and glaze the cake with some lemon icing for a citrusy flavor.
- Carrot stirred fruit cake: Add some grated carrot and walnuts to the batter and frost the cake with some cream cheese icing for a carrot cake-like version.
- Gingerbread stirred fruit cake: Add some molasses and ginger to the batter and decorate the cake with some candied ginger for a spicy and festive treat.
- Banana stirred fruit cake: Add some mashed banana and pecansto the batter and drizzle the cake with some caramel sauce for a banana bread-like variation.
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed this article on how to make a delicious stirred fruit cake. Stirred fruit cake is a classic dessert that is perfect for any occasion. It is easy to make, moist, rich, and flavorful. You can customize it with your favorite dried fruits, nuts, spices, and alcohol. You can also try some variations of stirred fruit cake for a different taste and texture. Stirred fruit cake can last for weeks or even months if stored properly, so you can make it ahead and enjoy it later.
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