Chocolate Fruit Cake

This cake always reminds me of snowy Christmas and I am wrapped in a warm blanket near the fireplace! I've never seen snow though, and I do not have a fireplace, but this recipe just makes my home smell so festive every time I make it, so I rarely need an occasion to bake this. You can also make it without the chocolate and add fruits and nuts of your choice, the more the merrier! This cake needs a little more time than usual ones, but then it’s not just an ordinary cake. It'll last for many weeks and can be used as a dessert, make a sundae of it, or just give a piece in our kids’ lunchbox, or grab a bite while reading before going to bed!

Preparation Time 20 mins

Standing time 3 hours

Cooking Time 1 hr 15 mins

Ingredients

1 Apple Chopped

1 cup raisins

1 cup cherries

1 tbsp coffee

1 cup liqueur of your choice (Brandy, Grand mariner, rum, Irish whiskey etc)

{Combine all of the above, and let it stand for 3-4 hours. Drain the fruit and reserve the liquor. Keep aside 1/3^rd cup of this. Can be made 1-2 days in advance as well}

Butter ¾ cup

Sugar 1 ¼ cup

Eggs 6, separated into whites and yolks

Milk Chocolate 100 grams grated

Flour/maida 2 cups

Baking powder 1 tsp

Baking soda ¼ tsp

Recipe

• Preheat oven at 300 degrees F.
• Beat together butter, eggs yolks and ¾ cup of sugar till sugar dissolves and mixture becomes fluffy.
• Beat in the chocolate.
• Sift into this the flour, baking soda, and baking powder.
• Add the 1/3 cup of the reserved liqueur slowly.
• In a separate bowl, beat together the egg whites and ½ cup sugar till fluffy.
• Add this sugar mix to the flour batter, adding 1/4^th at a time and fold gently. Do NOT over-mix.
• Bake at 300 Degrees F for 1 hour 15 mins.
• Chocolate Fruitcake is ready to be enjoyed – Be it Christmas or a birthday or anniversary!

This cake needs no occasion. You can keep this cake in fridge or an airtight container and it lasts 2-3 weeks easily, unless you eat it all in a day!

Read History of the Fruitcake here:

http://www.tasteandflavours.com/2012/10/history-of-fruitcake.html