Christmas 2022: Here Is Your Reminder To Soak Dry Fruits For Plum Cake  

We are around a month away from Christmas and the preparations are in full swing. What makes Christmas even more special is the joy of indulging in the quintessential plum cake. Did you know the preparation for plum cake begins months in advance? Yes, we aren’t bluffing here. The dry fruits are soaked in rum or brandy for months for a slightly bitter taste and dense texture. The aroma of the Christmas plum cake, with its alcohol-infused dry fruits and nuts, is intoxicating and simply irresistible. Plum cakes are usually made of dried fruits like grapes, currants, raisins or prunes. Some even use fresh fruits depending on one’s taste and preference.

In case you had forgotten to soak the Christmas cake fruits, chef Saransh Goila is here with a reminder. The chef asked his followers to share “that one dish” that reminds them of Christmas. Going first, he wrote, “For me, it has to be the cake and soaking of fruits at least one month prior is key.” “Christmas is coming friends and my heart is already merry merry. Have you soaked your fruits yet?” he added. 

To make the soaked fruits for plum cake, take 50 grams of almonds, cashews, and walnuts each in a bowl. Further add 35 grams of cranberries, black raisins, tutti frutti, and golden raisins into the bowl. For spices, you would need 4-star anise, 3 pieces of cinnamon, 1 tsp ginger powder and ¼ tsp nutmeg powder. Add lemon zest, and rum/coke (as per your preference). Shake it well. And keep it aside to rest. 

How To Make Plum Cake? Here Is Saransh Goila’s Recipe

Ingredients:

• Lemon zest: 1
• Orange zest: 1
• Clove powder: 1/4tsp
• Ginger powder: ½ tsp
• Cinnamon powder: ½ tsp
• Butter: 250gms
• Brown sugar: 200gms
• Baking powder: ½ tsp
• Almond powder: 100gms
• Vanilla essence: 1tsp
• Eggs: 4
• Icing sugar (for decoration)

Method

Step 1: Preheat oven to 170 degrees. Add maida, baking powder and almond powder in a bowl. Throw in all the spice powders and put them through a sieve so as to remove lumps or large particles.

Step 2: In a pan, beat some eggs.

Step 3: Next, mix some cream butter and brown sugar together. Add lemon and orange zest to the mix. Add in the beaten eggs and whip it once again. Pour vanilla essence. Give all the ingredients a quick mix. 

Step 4: Now empty the sieved powder mix and whisk thoroughly. Pop in the soaked dry fruits.

Step 5: Pour some orange juice and whisk well.

Step 6: Transfer the stuff to a greased pan and bake in the preheated oven for 45 to 50 minutes.

Step 7: Once the cake gets cooled, drizzle icing sugar on top. Decorate it with your favourite Christmas decorations. It’s ready to serve.