by Cristina S.
Member since:
March 21, 2007

A DIFFERENT TWIST ON FRUITCAKE

December 08, 2010 04:27 PM UTC
views: 0 | 9 people recommend this | comments: 60

The Germans make something vaguely similar to fruitcake, only the neon fruit is not part of it.
I have been working out a version I like, after comparing all kinds of recipes.
Each one had something I didn't care for, or was not going to use because I wanted this to be vegan...

Beat together until  fluffy:
1 cup very good margarine (if you don't want to go vegan here, I strongly suggest butter instead)
3 tsp Lebkuchen spice (mine is a mixture of cinnamon, anise, cloves, coriander and cardamom)

Add 1/4 c sugar dissolved in 1/4 c water in small amounts, beating very well after each. This should be  very fluffy, with all the liquid incorporated into the margarine/spice mixture.

Gently add 1 c flour (I used whole wheat)

Grate two fairly large apples (I used Braeburn, use your favorite) and fold into batter.

Add 1 cup flour, 1/4 c corn starch (make sure it is non-GMO!) and 3 tsp baking powder.
Mix in very gently.

Now fold in 2 cups mixed dried fruit. I used raisins, chopped candied ginger, chopped dates and my own candied orange peel. Make sure the raisins are not sticking out of the top - they would burn. Push down and smooth over with your nice clean fingers...

Bake at 175°C/340°F until skewer in center comes out clean. The time will depend on your shape of pan - how thick your layer of dough is... My loaf pan took about 45 minutes.


http://media-files.gather.com/images/d766/d678/d746/d224/d96/f3/full.jpg

Enjoy this with a nice cup of tea! (Coffee is fine too...)

Comments: 60

Cristina S. Dec 8, 2010, 4:34pm UTC
To me, this beats any "standard" fruitcake, hands down...
But I am biased, lol!
Rose (just an ole GA peach) W. Dec 8, 2010, 4:35pm UTC
I agree, and you have a right to biased :)
Rose (just an ole GA peach) W. Dec 8, 2010, 4:34pm UTC
I'm SO not a fruit cake fan...but your variation looks delicious. I'd try a slice in a second...and love to share a cup of tea with you also :)
Thank you for being so supportive on FB...your likes have meant a lot to me b/c I know they come from the heart.
Blessings to you and yours Cristina in this Christmas season.
Cristina S. Dec 8, 2010, 4:42pm UTC
Rose, yes, my "likes" come from the heart. I think of you and your family often, and hope the sorrow, while not leaving (it never will) is starting to take a back seat to living...

Maybe we will really be able to share a cup of tea some day! I will be in Kissimmee from 22 Jan to 04 Feb, leaving on the 5th. Is that anywhere near you?
I've never been a fruitcake fan either... but this does look tempting!
Cristina S. Dec 8, 2010, 4:44pm UTC
Julie, I wish I could give you a piece - this will get made many more times, that's for sure...

I will be in Kissimmee arriving 21 Jan, leaving 5 Feb. Will I see you?
Sophie S. Dec 8, 2010, 4:42pm UTC
You know, I have never tried fruitcake, but this actually looks appetizing. I am going to bookmark it for the twins to make. Thanks
Cristina S. Dec 8, 2010, 4:46pm UTC
The trouble with fruitcake is all those yucky colored, hard bits of "fruit." Here, you choose what you like.
Natalie Neal Whitefield Dec 8, 2010, 5:15pm UTC
This looks so good, Cristina! Momma used to make the most delicious fruit cake, but she NEVER used those awful green and red candied fruits. She used her own candied orange peel that she had made, just as you have done, and dried pineapple, candied ginger, pecans---all great natural ingredients. No artificial flavored anything! It tasted so good! Completely different than the kind which is commercially available these days.
Cristina S. Dec 8, 2010, 5:38pm UTC
Dried pineapple sounds awesome - and I did think about nuts - but I didn't have any - so next time!

The only thing you can do with commercially available fruitcake nowadays is use it as a doorstop, if it's big enough, lol!
Dr. Ashok Saxena Dec 8, 2010, 5:21pm UTC
This looks a delicious innovation
Cristina S. Dec 8, 2010, 5:38pm UTC
Thanks Ashok! I am always working out new recipes - it is a relaxing pastime :-)
Ishbel R. Dec 8, 2010, 5:38pm UTC
Good British christmas cake is a joy - I make LOADS of them for friends and family on Stir Up Sunday.

There is NO neon fruit in a British cake!
Cristina S. Dec 8, 2010, 5:39pm UTC
I know Ishbel - and I loved it when I lived in Sussex...
Ishbel R. Dec 8, 2010, 5:58pm UTC
That's good to know!
What IS this 'neon' fruit of which you speak?
Cristina S. Dec 9, 2010, 1:10pm UTC
maraschino cherries, green and bright yellow colored bits of candied "orange" or "lemon" peel - stuff like that...
Ishbel R. Dec 9, 2010, 5:21pm UTC
Oh? We stopped having those sorts of additives many, many years ago!
Katrina Hall Dec 8, 2010, 5:39pm UTC
Yummy! Can't wait to make this!
Cristina S. Dec 8, 2010, 5:40pm UTC
Thanks Katrina! Your fruitcake cookies got me thinking...
Katrina Hall Dec 8, 2010, 5:53pm UTC
Ah ha - blame The Pioneer Woman:)
☃ Shannon K. Wendt Dec 8, 2010, 6:49pm UTC
Now THIS is a fruitcake I would try. Too bad you didn't live closer :)
Cristina S. Dec 9, 2010, 2:46am UTC
I would love to share this with you Shannon!
☃ Shannon K. Wendt Dec 8, 2010, 6:50pm UTC
And what is non GMO cornstarch?
Cristina S. Dec 9, 2010, 2:45am UTC
Shannon, corn is one of the crops that is most frequently raised with genetically modified seed in the US. Most of the rest of the world doesn't want it, because there are loads of studies that show it is not good for mammals to consume it - including humans. Sadly, the only way to make sure in the US that your corn starch is non GMO is to buy organic. In other countries GMO modified food has to be labeled as such...
☃ Shannon K. Wendt Dec 9, 2010, 10:02am UTC
Well that leaves me out. I can't afford organic in my food budget :(
Cristina S. Dec 9, 2010, 1:11pm UTC
Then I would turn to potato starch instead...
Madame Donna C. Dec 8, 2010, 7:12pm UTC
Lovely, Cristina! Between your cake and Katrina's cookies, I'll have fruited confections in all corners of the kitchen!
Cristina S. Dec 9, 2010, 2:49am UTC
LOL Donna, Your kitchen must be a treasure trove 24/7...
Sonia M. Dec 8, 2010, 8:13pm UTC
I hate a dry fruitcake and most of the commercial ones are...I have several variations of fruitcake recipes that are not the standard with the "neon fruits" ;-)
This will be added to my collection!
Cristina S. Dec 9, 2010, 2:53am UTC
Thanks for the compliment Sonia - dry this is not - thank the grated apple. My Mom buys something called apple bread each year. It has finely diced apples in it. I took it a step further and grated mine.
Sonia M. Dec 10, 2010, 12:21pm UTC
I do like the idea of grating the apple for moisture....
Thanks!
Marianne M. Dec 8, 2010, 8:39pm UTC
What a lovely recipe, Cristina! Your fruitcake looks delicious!
Cristina S. Dec 9, 2010, 2:55am UTC
Thanks Marianne, wish I could share a slice with you all!
Kool Boy Dec 9, 2010, 3:48am UTC
Thanks for posting this.
Have a Happy Holiday Season!
Sherrie H. Dec 9, 2010, 10:13am UTC
It looks very moist and tasty! You're such a great cook! (Speaking from experience... :-))
Cristina S. Dec 9, 2010, 1:12pm UTC
- - - blushing - - -
Debra C. Dec 9, 2010, 4:50pm UTC
Now this is a good looking fruitcake!
Cristina S. Dec 10, 2010, 1:57pm UTC
Thanks Debra!
Melinda ~choosing happiness~ S. Dec 10, 2010, 1:39pm UTC
I have never been disappointed with one of your recipes and this one looks fabulous!! I'm printing it out and will let you know if I find time to make it!
Cristina S. Dec 10, 2010, 1:58pm UTC
Thanks Melinda - I am considering three apples next time :-)
William Dotani Dec 12, 2010, 11:12am UTC
I was disappointed once. Yes, I recall the day with two boxes of tissue. I think there was a misprint, or a large smudge blocking my view of Cristina's recipe, because the recipe did not turn out right. I had forgotten the 3 tsp of Lebkuchen spice. Now friends, family and neighbors shun me when I'm cooking.
Cristina S. Dec 12, 2010, 11:59am UTC
LOL Bill, ad the spice you like! I like everything in my mixture...
William Dotani Dec 12, 2010, 11:07am UTC
I love candied ginger. This looks very much like a cake my British friend made while I was in Japan. I have a feeling this type of cake is common to most European countries.
Cristina S. Dec 12, 2010, 12:00pm UTC
Actually, I think this is pretty British - living in Britain did that to me...
William Dotani Dec 12, 2010, 12:10pm UTC
Recently the press reported protest n England and Prince Charles' car being surrounded by a British mob. The photograph shows Camilla looking surprised and that is because one of the protestors gave her a British fruitcake and it was reported that in her shock she said, 'Where is the neon fruit?'
Alison H. Dec 12, 2010, 1:45pm UTC
Looks absolutely scrumptious!
Alison H. Dec 12, 2010, 1:45pm UTC
I'm sure I could do it gluten-free.....do you make your own spice mixture, or buy it pre-packaged?
Alison H. Dec 12, 2010, 1:46pm UTC
Ginger, yum!
Cristina S. Dec 13, 2010, 2:06am UTC
Alison, as flour is not really the most important ingredient here, it is easy: I would go with mixture of coarse cornmeal and maybe rice flour, half and half. If you are fine with eggs, I would add 2 eggs and add a bit more cornstarch (made it with tapioca powder yesterday and it turned out great!
Alison H. Dec 13, 2010, 2:29am UTC
Yes, there are a ton of GF cookbooks and wheat flour substitutes out now. Xanthan gum helps to substitute for what gluten does in the batter or dough. I have been trying out different commercial gluten-free mixtures along with making my own from different cookbook recipes. I like the ones that include sorghum.
Alison H. Dec 13, 2010, 2:29am UTC
Thanks for sharing your recipe!
Cristina S. Dec 13, 2010, 2:19pm UTC
If you do make it, let me know! I would love to see a pic!
Alison H. Dec 13, 2010, 10:59pm UTC
I haven't been able to post pics on Gather for about six weeks (though I haven't tried lately), but I'll let you know!
Alison H. Dec 13, 2010, 11:00pm UTC
I've copied the recipe to take with me to the grocery store. Oh, BTW, do you buy the Lebkuchen spice pre-packaged?
Cristina S. Dec 14, 2010, 1:56am UTC
Alison, I did this time - but it is easy to just make up your own - mixture of cinnamon, anise, cloves, coriander and cardamom in this case. I would go with decreased amounts in that order...
Alison H. Dec 14, 2010, 2:17am UTC
Coriander, that is interesting, in combination with the others....looks like I will have to get some anise!
Mariana T. Dec 16, 2010, 1:48pm UTC
I love fruitcake - and hope someone sends me some this year - I love this vegan recipe and will just have to imagine how delicious this is...thanks for the picture - I am now tasting it with my third cup of coffee! Salud
Cristina S. Dec 17, 2010, 3:55pm UTC
Mariana, it is long gone - maybe some day we will have some coffee together...
William Dotani Apr 6, 2011, 1:28am UTC
Someone called me a fruitcake. Do you think I need to fear they are fruitcake eating cannibals?
Marilyn (PaintsOnSlate) S. Jun 21, 2011, 8:03pm UTC
Sounds wonderful!

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