Make your Christmas sweeter with this soft and rich plum cake
Christmas celebrations feel incomplete without a delicious plum cake full of rich flavours from dried fruits, nuts, and warm spices. If you want to make one, read further for the recipe.
New Delhi: Christmas celebrations feel incomplete without a delicious plum cake full of rich flavours from dried fruits, nuts, and warm spices. This traditional festive cake is loved for its moist texture and its signature blend of sweetness and spice. A key part of the recipe is the preparation done in advance, especially soaking the dried fruits in rum or orange juice to enhance the aroma and taste. While it may seem like a long process, each step is simple and rewarding when done with a little planning.
With a perfect balance of caramel, soaked fruits, and spice mix, this homemade plum cake can become the highlight of your Christmas feast. You may be baking for the first time or keeping a family tradition alive; this easy-to-follow method will help you achieve bakery-style results. Here’s how to bake a rich and authentic Christmas plum cake at home using simple ingredients and festive flavours.
Rich plum cake recipe for Christmas
Ingredients for rich plum cake
1½ cups mixed dried fruits (raisins, dates, cherries, candied peel)
½ cup dark rum or orange juice (for soaking)
1½ cups all-purpose flour
Baking powder and 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon cinnamon and nutmeg powder
¼ teaspoon clove powder
1 cup sugar (¾ cup for batter + ¼ cup for caramel)
½ cup butter and 3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
⅓ cup chopped nuts (cashews/almonds/walnuts)
1 tablespoon jam (optional)
How to prepare rich plum cake for Christmas
1. Prepare the dry fruits
- Soak chopped raisins, dates, cherries, candied peel, and similar dried fruits in dark rum or orange juice for at least one day. Longer soaking brings deeper flavour.
- Before using them, lightly coat the soaked fruits with a little flour so they stay evenly distributed in the cake instead of sinking.
2. Make the caramel syrup and wet ingredients
- Caramelise white sugar on medium heat until golden and carefully add water to form a smooth syrup.
- Allow it to cool fully.
- Cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
- Add eggs one by one, mixing after each addition.
- Stir in vanilla extract to enhance flavour.
3. Combine and bake
- Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F).
- Grease and line an 8-inch pan with parchment paper.
- Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, and spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove powder.
- Gently fold these into the wet mixture.
- Mix in caramel syrup, fruits, and chopped nuts.
- Transfer the batter to the pan and bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour until a skewer comes out clean.
- Cool completely before slicing.
With proper soaking and careful baking, this classic Christmas plum cake turns out rich, moist, and festive, which is perfect for sharing.