Infused Christmas Fruit Cake
Super moist and densely rich, this traditional-style holiday fruit cake is filled with balsamic-infused dried fruit. It’s deeply flavoured "nostalgia" in every bite, without the hours and days of work our grandmothers spent in the kitchen. Taking only 30 minutes to prepare, and a few hours in the oven, it can be enjoyed the same day, or brushed with balsamic and enjoyed weeks later allowing the flavours to develop further.
30 minutes | 2 hours
Dessert
Vegetarian
Ingredients
Serves:4
4 cups chopped mixed dried fruit (raisins, currants, cherries, apricots, dates, figs, cranberries, etc)
-
½ cup Vignoli IGP Balsamic 1.19 density
½ cup orange juice
3 eggs
1 cup brown sugar
-
½ cup Vignoli Blood Orange Infused olive oil
¼ cup unsweetened apple sauce
1 tsp sea salt
½ tsp ground ginger
½ tsp ground nutmeg
¼ tsp ground cloves
1 ½ cups sifted all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
3 cups confectioners sugar
-
3 Tbsp Vignoli Blood Orange Infused olive oil
6 Tbsp whipping cream (35%)
Blood Orange Icing
- 600g chopped mixed dried fruit (raisins, currants, cherries, apricots, dates, figs, cranberries, etc)
- 120ml Vignoli IGP Balsamic 1.19 density
- 120ml orange juice
- 3 eggs
- 215g brown sugar
- 120ml Vignoli Blood Orange Infused olive oil
- 75g unsweetened apple sauce
- 3g sea salt
- 1g ground ginger
- 1g ground nutmeg
- 5g ground cloves
- 180g sifted all-purpose flour
- 3g baking powder
Blood Orange Icing- 400g confectioners sugar
- 45ml Vignoli Blood Orange Infused olive oil
- 90ml whipping cream (35%)
Preparation
In a large pot place the dried fruit, balsamic and orange juice, and bring to a boil. Cover, remove from heat and set aside to soak.
- In a large mixing bowl whisk eggs until fully combined but not fluffy, add in brown sugar, and olive oil and whisk to incorporate, then add in the apple sauce and spices. Mix to combine and ensure the spices are evenly distributed and not clumped together.
- Mix the flour and baking powder together. Sift the flour mixture over the mixing bowl, and fold together until no flour streaks remain.
- Add in the soaked fruit, along with all the liquid. Mixing gently to incorporate.
- Preheat the oven to 300°F
- Coat an 8-inch springform pan with non-stick cooking spray. Pour batter into the prepared pan. It will be very full. Tap it on the counter to remove any air bubbles and allow the batter to naturally level.
- Using a non-stick spray, spray the shiny side of a large piece of aluminum foil and cover the cake, sprayed side down. Bake for 90 minutes. Remove the foil cover and continue to bake for an additional 30 minutes. When finished a toothpick inserted will come out with a few crumbs and no wet batter.
- Remove from the oven and let rest for 3 hours to completely cool and rest.
- To make the icing, whisk together icing sugar, olive oil and cream to form a thick creamy frosting. It will not be pourable but will flow once spread on the cake. Spread over the cake and let it naturally drip down the sides. Let rest at least an hour before serving. Garnish with icing sugar, sugared cranberries, and holly sprigs.
- In a large pot place the dried fruit, balsamic and orange juice, and bring to a boil. Cover, remove from heat and set aside to soak for 25 minutes while preparing the cake batter.
- In a large mixing bowl whisk eggs until fully combined but not fluffy, add in brown sugar, and olive oil and whisk to incorporate, then add in the apple sauce and spices. Mix to combine and ensure the spices are evenly distributed and not clumped together.
- Mix the flour and baking powder together. Sift the flour mixture over the mixing bowl, and fold together until no flour streaks remain.
- Add in the soaked fruit, along with all the liquid. Mixing gently to incorporate.
- Preheat the oven to 150°C
- Coat a 20cm springform pan with non-stick cooking spray. Pour batter into the prepared pan. It will be very full. Tap it on the counter to remove any air bubbles and allow the batter to naturally level.
- Using a non-stick spray, spray the shiny side of a large piece of aluminum foil and cover the cake, sprayed side down. Place it in the preheated oven. Bake for 90 minutes. Remove the foil cover and continue to bake for an additional 30 minutes. When finished a toothpick inserted will come out with a few crumbs and no wet batter.
- Remove from the oven and let rest for 3 hours to completely cool and rest.
- To make the icing, whisk together icing sugar, olive oil and cream to form a thick creamy frosting. It will not be pourable but will flow once spread on the cake. Spread over the cake and let it naturally drip down the sides. Let rest at least an hour before serving. Garnish with icing sugar, sugared cranberries, and holly sprigs.
More ideas for you
Drinks, Lunch, and Dinner
Vegetarian
Vegan
Gluten free
We are more than just olive oil and vinegar.
Our chefs and nutritionists create our fresh, from-scratch Italian delicacies for food lovers just like us. From homemade pastas and sauces to our made-in-house tapenades and olive mixes, we create our gourmandies using original recipes that incorporate the freshest and best locally grown Italian ingredients. Experience true Italian food the Vignoli way!