• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Cook with Kushi
  • Home
  • About
    • Privacy policy
    • Disclaimer
  • Advertise
  • FAQ
  • Contact Me
  • Media
  • Blog
  • Easy and Healthy Recipes for the Family
  • Recipe Index
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Resources
  • About
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Resources
    • About
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Christmas Recipes

    Christmas Fruit and Nut Cake - Holiday Special

    Published: Dec 16, 2015 · Modified: Dec 13, 2023 by Kushi · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Fruit and Nut Cake: Traditional and old-fashioned, rich and moist Christmas cake loaded with lots of dried fruits and nuts. A must-try cake recipe this holiday season.

    Traditional, moist, and best Christmas cake recipe: Easy Christmas fruit and nut cake in bundt pan.
    Jump to:
    • Recipe card
    • Best Christmas Cake
    • Ingredients
    • Step-by-step instructions
    • Tips
    • Store and Freeze
    • More cake recipes
    • User Reviews

    Recipe card

    Traditional, moist, and best Christmas cake recipe: Easy Christmas fruit and nut cake in bundt pan.

    Christmas Fruit and Nut Cake - Holiday Special

    Kushi
    Fruit and Nut Cake: Traditional and old-fashioned, rich and moist Christmas cake loaded with lots of dried fruits and nuts. A must try cake recipe this holiday season.
    No ratings yet
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 1 hour hr
    Total Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins
    Course Desserts, sweets
    Cuisine American, Indian, Italian
    Servings 12
    Calories 445 kcal

    Equipment

    • Bundt Pan

    Ingredients
      

    To soak the fruits

    • ⅓ cup Dried cranberries
    • ⅓ cup Raisins Black or golden
    • ⅓ cup Mixed peel
    • ⅓ cup Dates
    • 1 cup wine or apple juice or orange juice

    For the cake batter

    • ½ cup butter unsalted softened ( 1 stick / 8 tablespoon at room temperature)
    • ½ cup Oil
    • 1 ¼ cup Sugar
    • ¼ cup Molasses
    • 1 teaspoon Baking powder
    • 1 tablespoon Orange zest
    • 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
    • ½ teaspoon Salt
    • ½ teaspoon Cinnamon optional
    • ½ teaspoon Allspice optional
    • 3 Eggs
    • 2 cups All purpose flour
    • ¼ cup Orange juice
    • ½ cup Almonds roasted
    • ½ cup Cashews or walnut roasted

    Instructions
     

    Soaking the dried fruits

      Traditional soaking

      • Mix the cranberries, raisins, peel, and dates one week before baking. Pour 1 cup of wine. Cover it and refrigerate.
        ⅓ cup Dried cranberries, ⅓ cup Raisins, ⅓ cup Mixed peel, ⅓ cup Dates, 1 cup wine

      Fast soaking

      • Mix the cranberries, raisins, peel, and dates with wine or juice in microwave-safe containers. Microwave on high for 1 ½ minutes or until it becomes hot.
      • Cover and set aside for 1-2 hours.
      • You can also soak them overnight in a refrigerator.

      Make the Christmas cake batter

      • Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Grease bundt pan or 8 or 9-inch cake pan with butter and keep it aside.
      • Beat the butter and sugar in a mixing bowl until it becomes smooth and creamy.
        ½ cup butter unsalted, 1 ¼ cup Sugar
      • Add oil and molasses and beat until combined.
        ½ cup Oil, ¼ cup Molasses
      • Add baking powder, orange zest, vanilla extract, salt, and spices, and mix until combined.
        1 teaspoon Baking powder, 1 tablespoon Orange zest, 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract, ½ teaspoon Salt, ½ teaspoon Cinnamon, ½ teaspoon Allspice
      • Add egg one at a time and beat until incorporated.
        3 Eggs
      • Add flour and mix. Do not overmix.
        2 cups All purpose flour
      • Add the soaked fruit mix along with the liquid, orange juice, and dried fruits and fold.
        ¼ cup Orange juice, ½ cup Almonds, ½ cup Cashews or walnut
      • Pour the batter into a lightly greased pan.
      • Bake for 70 to 80 minutes or until it's done. The knife inserted should come out clean. Baking time may vary depending on the size of your pan and your oven.
      • Let it cool down for at least 10 - 20 minutes, even before you flip from the pan.
      • Once the cake cools completely, slice it, serve, and enjoy.

      Notes

      • I have used Moscato wine in my recipe.
      • You can brush them with a liqueur of your choice just before serving.
      • Once it cools down completely, wrap them in foil or store them in a sealed container.
      • Use candied fruits of your choice - raisins, currants, apricots, citrus peels, candied fruits, cherries; dates are some options.

      Nutrition

      Calories: 445kcalCarbohydrates: 57gProtein: 5gFat: 21gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0.4gCholesterol: 61mgSodium: 158mgPotassium: 280mgFiber: 2gSugar: 38gVitamin A: 311IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 71mgIron: 2mg
      Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

      Best Christmas Cake

      I have already shared a recipe for vegan and eggless Christmas cake and a classic and moist Christmas rum cake.

      This is an easy and old-fashioned version of a holiday cake recipe baked in a bundt pan. The dry fruits are soaked in wine for about a week before preparing this cake. This way, you can enjoy a burst of holiday flavors with every bite of the cake. I have also shared a quick soak method for dry fruits.

      This Christmas cake recipe is a very flexible one. Use dried fruits, nuts, and spices that your family loves. You can also give this form of gift to your family and friends.

      Check out Christmas dinner recipes and Christmas dessert recipes.

      traditional old fashioned Christmas cake recipe with dried fruits, nuts (alcohol and alcohol free).

      Ingredients

      Candied fruits: raisins, currants, apricots, citrus peels, candied fruits, cherries, dates are some options.

      Liquid for soaking: You can soak them in wine, rum, or brandy, or for an alcohol-free version, use apple juice or orange juice.

      Nuts: Cashews, almonds, walnuts, pecans- use any nut of your choice. It adds a good crunch.

      Spices: These are optional but add cozy and warm flavor.

      Butter: Makes your cake rich.

      Sugar: The cake's color depends on the sugar type used. White, light brown, or dark golden brown.

      Bundt pan cake recipe- holiday special fruit and nut cake. Christmas cake recipe.

      Step-by-step instructions

      Soaking the dried fruits: Traditional soaking

      Mix the cranberries, raisins, peel, and dates one week before baking. Pour 1 cup of wine. Cover it and refrigerate.

      Fast soaking

      • Mix the cranberries, raisins, peel, and dates with wine or juice in microwave-safe containers. Microwave on high for 1 ½ minutes or until it becomes hot. 
      • Cover and set aside for 1-2 hours. 
      • You can also soak them overnight in a refrigerator. 

      Make the Christmas cake batter

      • Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Grease bundt pan or 8 or 9-inch cake pan with butter and keep it aside. 
      • Beat the butter and sugar in a mixing bowl until it becomes smooth and creamy. 
      • Add oil and molasses and beat until combined. 
      • Add baking powder, orange zest, vanilla extract, salt, and spices, and mix until combined. 
      • Add egg one at a time and beat until incorporated. 
      • Add flour and mix. Do not overmix. 
      • Add the soaked fruit mix along with the liquid, orange juice, and dried fruits and fold.
      • Pour the batter into a lightly greased pan.
      • Bake for 70 to 80 minutes or until it's done. The knife inserted should come out clean. Baking time may vary depending on the size of your pan and your oven. 
      • Let it cool down for at least 10 - 20 minutes, even before you flip from the pan.
      • Once the cake cools completely, slice it, serve it, and enjoy it.
      Best and easy Christmas cake recipe. Traditional Christmas cake with dried fruits, nuts.

      Tips

      • I have used Moscato wine in my recipe.
      • You can brush them with a liqueur of your choice just before serving.
      • Once it cools down completely, wrap them in foil or store them in a sealed container.
      • Use candied fruits of your choice - raisins, currants, apricots, citrus peels, candied fruits, cherries; dates are some options.

      Store and Freeze

      • You can wrap the cake in aluminum foil and store it in an airtight container at room temperature for a week or in a refrigerator for two months.
      • You can also freeze them for up to six months.

      More cake recipes

      • Best eggless date cake | Traditional Date nut bread loaf recipe for Diwali, Christmas, Thanksgiving.
        Eggless Date Cake | Date Nut Bread
      • best, soft & moist butter cake recipe, ghee cake recipe
        Best Butter Cake Recipe | Moist & Soft Ghee Cake
      • best moist eggless chocolate cake recipe, vegan chocolate cake with buttercream frosting
        Best Eggless Chocolate Cake | Vegan Chocolate Cake
      • eggless Christmas fruit cake, vegan cake, best homemade plum cake, christmas gift cake idea
        EGGLESS CHRISTMAS FRUIT CAKE | VEGAN CHRISTMAS CAKE | BEST PLUM CAKE

      Did you like this recipe? Please leave a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating below and/or a review in the comments section. You can also stay in touch with us through social media by following us on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

      Note: We originally posted this old-fashioned Christmas fruit and nut cake recipe in Oct 2015. It has now been modified in Dec 2023 with Expert Chef Tips, FAQs, Storage Instructions, etc.

      More Delicious Christmas Recipes to Get in the Holiday Spirit

      • Vegetable Salad with Ranch Dressing | Healthy Salad Ideas | Homemade Salad Dressing.
        Vegetable Salad with Ranch Dressing
      • Persimmon pie with custard filling and homemade pie crust - unique dessert recipe for fall & holiday.
        Persimmon Pie with Custard Filling
      • Cinnamon swirl cake with fresh apples and persimmons. Holiday, fall, winter dessert and breakfast.
        Cinnamon Swirl Cake with Apples and Persimmons
      • French Apple Cake Recipe | Best Apple Dessert, Snack and Breakfast.
        French Apple Cake

      Reader Interactions

      Comments

      1. Bindu

        August 16, 2016 at 1:17 pm

        What we can used instead of wine

        Reply
        • Kushi

          November 22, 2016 at 9:39 pm

          You can simply skip wine. If you want you can pre-soak dried fruits in grape/apple juice.

          Reply
      2. komal

        September 24, 2016 at 7:48 am

        great receipe mam
        just want to knw what is molasses
        nd is there any substitution of eggs.

        Reply
        • Kushi

          September 24, 2016 at 1:26 pm

          Thank you Komal. It's a viscous by product of sugarcane. If it is difficult to find replace it with honey or increase the amount of brown sugar. I have not tried substituting egg in this recipe but generally when I do a eggless version, I increase baking powder and milk and add mashed banana. Let me know if you need any help.

          Reply
      « Older Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




      Primary Sidebar

      Hi, I'm Sridevi! I am a Software Engineer by qualification, a full-time Food Blogger by passion, a self-published Author, and a happy person two kids (monsters) ago.

      More about me →

      Best Casseroles

      • green bean casserole recipe from scratch with fresh beans, and fried onions, without mushroom soup
        Best Green Bean Casserole Recipe | Thanksgiving and Christmas Green Beans

      • cheesy corn casserole served in a baking pan along with a slice of toasted bread.
        Baked Corn Cheese Casserole | Cheesy Creamed Corn

      Chicken Recipes

      • Best, simple and authentic Indian butter chicken recipe (murgh makhani) with naan, roti, chapati.
        Indian Butter Chicken Recipe | Best Chicken Makhani

      • Best and easy chicken pulao with spicy and flavorful chicken thigh and drumsticks.
        Easy Chicken Pulao | Spicy One Pot Chicken Rice Pilaf

      See more Chicken recipes →

      Footer

      ↑ back to top

      About

      • Privacy Policy
      • Disclaimer

      Contact

      • Contact
      • FAQ
      Lists the popular websites in which cookwithkushi.com was featured.

      Copyright © 2024 Cook With Kushi

      Rate This Recipe

      Your vote:




      A rating is required
      A name is required
      An email is required