Kerala Plum/Fruit Cake. This year's first cake is this Kerala plum cake from Omana Paul, a popular caterer and good friend of ours. I have also shared an eggless fruit cake recipe if that's what you are after. This tutti frutti cake is perfect for those who don't really like plum cakes or raisins.

This cake is made with fruits that have been soaking in rum for few months or up to a year in advance. I get it a lot when a slight mention of my Kerala genes kicks in. 'Do you know how to make a plum cake?' they all ask. 'Yep,' I say 'and since I have eaten it all my life I am not a very big fan.' This Kerala style plum cake is made without alcohol. I have made this cake both with fresh orange juice and apple juice on various occasions. You can cook Kerala Plum/Fruit Cake using 17 ingredients and 15 steps. Here is how you cook it.

Ingredients of Kerala Plum/Fruit Cake

1. Prepare 125 grams of Butter, softened.
2. You need 110 grams of Caster sugar.
3. Prepare 75 grams of Sugar for caramel syrup.
4. It’s 60 millilitres of water Hot.
5. You need 2 of numbers Egg white.
6. You need 2 of numbers Egg yolk.
7. It’s 150 grams of Plain flour.
8. Prepare 1 teaspoon of Baking powder.
9. Prepare 1/8 teaspoon of Salt.
10. It’s 1 teaspoon of Vanilla essence.
11. Prepare 1 teaspoon of Lime juice.
12. Prepare 1 teaspoon of Pineapple jam.
13. It’s 1 1/2 cups of dried fruits Mixed, chopped.
14. It’s 1/4 cup of Cashew nuts, chopped (lightly roasted).
15. It’s 60 millilitres of Dark rum.
16. Prepare 1/2 tablespoon of Spice powder.
17. It’s 1/2 teaspoon of Orange peel, dried and powdered.

Soak the dry fruits in either of the juice overnight in the fridge. Indulge yourself to a Holiday Treat, loaded with Fruits n Nuts soaked in Rum… an Old fashioned Christmas Fruit Cake aka Kerala Style Plum Cake…! I wish you all the peace and joy of the season! Here's to wishing you and your loved ones Merry Christmas and Joyful New Year!

Kerala Plum/Fruit Cake instructions

1. Preheat oven at 180 °C for 15 minutes. Line base and sides of a deep 20 cm round cake pan with baking paper..
2. Beat egg white until peek, keep aside..
3. Beat butter and sugar in a bowl with electric mixer until soft and creamy..
4. Add egg yolk, one at a time and beat until well combined. Add vanilla essence and lime juice. Add cool caramel syrup and mix well..
5. Add sifted flour,baking powder and salt mixture along with egg white and fold well..
6. Finally, fold in mixed dried fruits, cashew nuts, pineapple jam, spice powder, dried and powdered orange peel mixture..
7. Spread the cake mixture into prepared pan. Bake for around 40 minutes or until a skewer inserted the centre of the cake comes out clean. Cool in pan..
8. NOTES – Brush top of hot cake with extra rum, if desired..
9. For mixed fruits i used a combination of raisins, glaced cherries, candied orange and lemon peel. Chop all the fruits into small pieces and soak them in dark rum for a period of minimum 1 week or until absorbed..
10. To avoid sinking, dust the soaked fruits with some sifted flour and baking powder mixture before using..
11. To make caramel syrup, combine sugar and little water in a sauce pan. When the sugar melts and becomes dark brown add 60 ml hot water. Melt completely and let it come to room temperature..
12. Spice powder is a combination of cloves, cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, and dry ginger. Grind all the spices to a fine powder..
13. To make dried and powdered orange peel, wash and peel the oranges and cut the peels into thin slices and spread it in a tray and keep under the sun for 3- 4 days, grind into a fine powder..
14. For measuring mixed dried fruits and cashewnut i used 250 ml measuring cup..
15. Have all the ingredients at room temperature especially butter and egg. Sift together the flour,baking powder and salt..

On popular demand by readers…once again Kerala Plum Cake – Christmas Fruit Cake. Kerala Christmas Fruit Cake / Kerala Plum Cake. Coming to think of it, I was always a hard core tea cake fan and used to wonder how can somebody like plum cake/fruit cake. Learn how to make rich and delicious Kerala Fruit Cake. Kerala Christmas Fruit / Plum Cake.