Name: Eggless Christmas Fruit Cake | Vegan Christmas Cake | Best Plum Cake
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 75 min
Total time: 90 min
Ingredients: 1/2 cup Coconut oil (or any neutral oil); 1 1/2 cups Orange juice; 1 cup Jaggery (or Dark brown sugar); 15 Dates (, chopped); 6 to 8 Figs (or Anjeer, chopped); 1/3 cup Raisins (or Currants or Cranberries); 1/2 cup Tutti frutti (or Candied fruits ); 1 inch Cinnamon stick (or (1/4 tsp powder)); 3 Cardamom (or ( 1/8 tsp powder)); 3 Cloves (or ( 1/8 tsp powder)); 1/3 cup Yogurt (or Dairy-free yogurt ); 1 tsp Orange zest; 2 1/2 cups All purpose flour ( or Maida); 1/2 tsp Salt; 1/4 tsp Baking soda; 1 tsp Baking powder; 1/2 tsp Spice mix powder (, from above or store-bought); 1/3 cup Mixed nuts ((any combination of cashews, almonds, pistachios, walnuts, pecans etc.))

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Eggless Christmas Fruit Cake is a special treat for all those who asked me for a no-egg no-alcohol version of traditional Christmas cake.

If you are looking for a traditional alcoholic rum cake, then check my CHRISTMAS RUM CAKE RECIPE.

The story behind Christmas plum cake that I know:

This eggless Christmas fruit cake is popularly known as tutti frutti cake or plum cake in India. We all grew up eating this from our childhood, and it always used to be a non-alcoholic version. Until I started cooking and baking on my own, I always thought the plum cake was made using fresh or frozen, or dried plums. Still, after reading a lot, I found that raisins or currants were popularly known as plumbs (plumb) in England. Since this cake had raisins in abundance, it was called plum cake, and since it is popular during Christmas, especially in South India, we call it Christmas plum cake.

While you are here, don't forget to check out CHRISTMAS FOOD IDEAS which I kickstarted this year with the BEST HOT CHOCOLATE RECIPE, CHRISTMAS TREE PULL APART BREAD & CHRISTMAS TREE VEGETABLE PLATTER WITH VEGAN MAYO.

Why should I bake Christmas cake at home?

I know this time of year that bakeries worldwide are filled with cakes. Nothing is easier than grabbing a couple of them and having it. But believe me, nothing beats the taste of a cake baked at home filled with lots of dried fruits, nuts, fresh ingredients, and no preservatives. Most importantly, you are baking it with love to feed your family and friends on Christmas eve. And when you serve home-baked goodies, the feeling is something that I cannot express in words.

So I highly recommend you bake at least one cake a year, especially for Christmas for your loved ones 🙂

And yes, these are also one of the best Christmas gift ideas.

INGREDIENTS FOR EGGLESS CHRISTMAS FRUIT CAKE | VEGAN CHRISTMAS CAKE | BEST PLUM CAKE

SOAKING DRIED FRUITS

½ cup Coconut oil or any neutral oil
1 ½ cups Orange juice
1 cup Jaggery or Dark brown sugar
15 Dates, chopped
6 to 8 Figs or Anjeer, chopped
⅓ cup Raisins or Currants or Cranberries
½ cup Tutti frutti or Candied fruits

FOR SPICE MIX (YOU CAN EVEN USE STORE-BOUGHT POWDER )

1 inch Cinnamon stick (¼ teaspoon powder)
3 Cardamom (⅛ teaspoon powder)
3 Cloves (⅛ teaspoon powder)

FOR EGGLESS CHRISTMAS CAKE BATTER

⅓ cup Yogurt or Dairy-free yogurt
1 teaspoon Orange zest
2 ½ cups All-purpose flour or Maida
½ teaspoon Salt
¼ teaspoon Baking soda
1 teaspoon Baking powder
½ teaspoon Spice mix powder, from above or store-bought
⅓ cup Mixed nuts (any combination of cashews, almonds, pistachios, walnuts, pecans, etc.)

HOW TO MAKE EGGLESS CHRISTMAS FRUIT CAKE | VEGAN CHRISTMAS CAKE | BEST PLUM CAKE

Soaking Dried Fruits

In a pan on medium flame, add oil, orange juice, jaggery, dates, figs, raisins, tutti frutti, and simmer for 15 minutes. Switch off the flame

Let this cool for 15 minutes.

Make Spice Mix

In a mortar & pestle, add cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, and crush to form a fine powder. You can skip this and add ¼ teaspoon cinnamon powder, ⅛ teaspoon each of cloves and cardamom powder.

Making Eggless Christmas Cake Batter.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9-inch round baking pan or line the pan with parchment paper and keep it aside. Check out full video here on making of Christmas cake.

In a large wide bowl, transfer the soaked dried fruits, along with yogurt, orange zest, and mix.

To this, add flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder, ground spice mix, mixed nuts, and mix until combined. Do not overmix.

Transfer this cake batter to the prepared baking pan and spread evenly. Garnish with more nuts, dried fruits, and cherries if desired.

Bake for 45 to 60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Tips

Feel free to use any fruits and nuts combination of your choice in the recipe.
The time for baking varies depending on how your oven functions. If the top starts getting brown faster, cover it with aluminum foil or parchment paper and continue baking.

Which dried fruits and nuts can be used while making Christmas fruit cake?

Honestly speaking, you can use any dried fruits from raisins, currants, cranberries, figs to apricots, candied fruits, or tutti frutti.

When adding nuts, choose what you love or have in your pantry – a combination of pecans, walnuts, cashews, almonds, pistachios, etc.

Use any combination of dried fruits and nuts. But use the quantity mentioned in the recipe for the right batter consistency and to maintain optimum fruits+nuts to flour ratio.

This recipe is a keeper. Prepare it for Christmas this year, and do share your review. Also, don't forget to tag us on Instagram. It is going to be a total crowd-pleaser dessert.

What can I substitute for jaggery in the recipe?

I have used black/dark organic jaggery today in the recipe. This gives your cake a deep traditional brown color like the one you get in bakeries. You can even use brown sugar or molasses or regular sugar or jaggery. The color will vary accordingly.

Can I substitute (maida) all-purpose flour with atta (whole wheat flour) in the cake recipe?

You can use atta instead of maida while making this cake recipe. Just keep in mind the texture and color will vary accordingly.

How to store eggless Christmas cake?

Unless you make a big batch of cakes, I don't think you will have any leftovers. This eggless Christmas cake is that good. For any reason, if you have any leftovers, tightly wrap them in foil and place them in a tin. Use as and when required for up to 7 to 10 days.

I WISH ALL MY LOVELY READERS A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Video recipe for EGGLESS CHRISTMAS FRUIT CAKE | VEGAN CHRISTMAS CAKE | BEST PLUM CAKE

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Comments

Elizabeth

December 14, 2022 at 3:31 pm

I love the background history you give for the title of the cake. This looks so dense and satisfying. Thanks for the great recipe.

Alison Saalbach Corey

December 14, 2022 at 5:40 pm

Wonderful recipe!! I'm excited to make this for my kids!

Gina Abernathy

December 14, 2022 at 5:43 pm

I really love fruit cake! I am adding this to my list of items to bake next week. Going this week to pick up my dried fruit. So excited to try this recipe.

Gina Abernathy

December 18, 2022 at 9:21 am

There's nothing like baking a homemade cake. The house smells amazing!

Biana

December 18, 2022 at 10:28 am

What a great looking cake! It looks very festive and perfect for the season.

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