"FLAWLESS' X'mas / Fruit Cake ( Kerala Style ) From Jes Kitchen ! RECIPE: 331

 Hey Guys kindly  tag  me on Instagram , when you  try this recipe ,..Thanks 

https://www.instagram.com/fooooodygirl/  

FOR EASIER  UNDERSTANDING I DIVIDED THE WHOLE PROCESS OF MAKING  A FLAWLESS X MAS CAKE INTO  5 MAJOR STEPS .

I. PREPARE  THE "SUGAR SYRUP" 

II. "SOAK"  THE  DRY FRUITS 

III . PREPARE THE  "CAKE BATTER"

IV . BAKE THE CAKE 

V. 'PREPARE'   THE  SECOND SYRUP AND "BRUSH" IT ON  THE  CAKE .

I. PREPARE THE "SUGAR SYRUP" 

STEP 1 :-  Combine   sugar( 3/4 cups ) and water ( 1/4 cup ) , and caramelize  it  ( it will 

 take  around 12-13 minutes on medium flame , and its color should be dark brown !!) . Then allow to cool it .

Then  carefully add hot water ( 1/3 cup) , combine well and set aside .

And its consistency should be like this as in the pic below .And set aside .

II. "SOAK" THE  DRY FRUITS 

STEP 2 :- Chop dry fruits   (  total of 3 cups , I  used  raisins  ( golden) , dates  , fig fruits , cranberries  

 candied  ginger ,  candied pineapple , fruit medley,  dried kiwi  slices ) 

 into small pieces as in the pic below  .

and soak them in grape juice ( 100 % juice , 5-8 cups ) , in a glass bottle ,  and refrigerate them  for 24 hours to 30  days .

STEP 3:- Preheat the oven to 375 Fahrenheit . And prepare ( line with parchment paper / butter and dust with flour  )  two, oven proof , 8 inch round pans  and set aside 

III . PREPARE THE "CAKE BATTER"

STEP 4 :- Beat egg white ( whites from 4 eggs  , until it forms soft peaks  ) and set aside .

STEP 5 :- Beat butter  ( one stick, 1/2 cup  ) , oil ( canola , 1/2- 3/4  cups )  and  sugar  ( 2  1/2 cups , brown sugar preferred),   

for 3-5 minutes ( until it becomes 'soft  smooth' ) 

now add egg yolks ( 4 nos ) beat  them again for 2- 4 minutes on high .

Now add step1  sugar syrup , beat  / combine again 

Now add vanilla essence( 2 teaspoons)  , ground cloves  (  3/4 teaspoons )  , nutmeg powder ( 3/4 teaspoons )  ,  cardamom powder( 3/4  teaspoons ) , cinnamon powder( 3/4 teaspoons )  , COMBINE .

 And  add  jam/preserves  (I used  apricot ,  3 table spoons ) and orange marmalade( 4 table spoons ) , 

 orange zest ( 1 teaspoons), honey ( OPTIONAL , 2 tablespoons) ,

 and orange juice (  freshly squeezed , from 1/2 of an orange) , combine and add

salt ( 2 pinches)  . COMBINE WELL.

 Now add all purpose flour ( 3 1/2 cups ) ,

baking powder ( 2 1/4 teaspoons ) , baking soda ( 1 1/4 teaspoons ) ,combine/

 beat them for 3-4 minutes on medium speed .

STEP 6:-  Now add step 2 soaked fruits ( 3 cups )  on a big mixing bowl , 

 COMBINE step 5 batter  and the soaked  fruits 

 combine well ( with a spatula or a spoon DO NOT USE BEATER OR HAND MIXER AT THIS POINT  ) .

Now add the step 3 egg white and fold it well .

STEP 7:- Pour the batter onto the prepared pans  ( two 8 inch pans ) .

IV . BAKE THE CAKE

STEP 8:- Bake for 45- 60 minutes  ( until  a tooth pick comes out clean ,when we insert into the cake ) 

V. 'PREPARE'   THE  SECOND SYRUP AND "BRUSH" IT  ON  THE  CAKE .

STEP 9:- Boil the grape juice ( leftover from ''soaked fruits'' ' if any 'or 3/4 cup fresh ) , jam ( strawberry , 2 table spoons ) 

orange marmalade  ( 2 table spoons ) 

and sugar ( 1/3 cup, brown sugar )  for 3-4 minutes  and 

strain   and set aside .

STEP 10:-   Line a  round plate ( 8 inch - 9 inch ) with aluminium foil ( heavy duty , preferred ) and  the line it with a parchment paper ,  and set aside .  Invert the cake  onto the prepared  plate ,   

and remove its parchment linings ( that we used for baking ) .

STEP 11:- Brush the step 9 special syrup on the cake (  while its still its hot ) . 

STEP 12:- Now cover its sides as in the pic below and allow to cool it . Once its cool,   place some  dried fruit pieces on its top  and cover it and store in refrigerator .

STEP 13:-  "FLAWLESS' X'mas Fruit Cake / 'Plum' Cake From Jes Kitchen  is ready ...... ENJOY............ Happy Christmas ......LOVE and  a blessed NEW year  - J A - Mathew -