Healthy Fruit Cake Traybake with Nuts Recipe
This Healthy Fruit Cake Traybake with Nuts is a wholesome and flavorful dessert featuring a medley of dried fruits soaked in brandy and orange juice, combined with crunchy nuts and aromatic spices. Lightly sweetened and topped with a tangy citrus glaze, this traybake is perfect for festive occasions or as a nourishing treat any time of the year.
- Prep Time: 4 hours 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 4 hours 45 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings
- Category: Baking
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Western/European
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Fruit soaking mixture
- ⅔ cup sultanas/raisins
- ⅔ cup dried cranberries
- ⅔ cup prunes, pitted and finely chopped
- 4 tablespoons brandy or cherry brandy
- ⅓ cup plus 1½ tablespoons orange juice
Dry ingredients
- 1¼ cups all-purpose/plain flour
- 1½ teaspoons baking powder
- 1½ teaspoons mixed spice
- Pinch of fine sea salt
Wet ingredients
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil, plus 1 teaspoon for greasing the pan
- 2 large eggs
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- Zest of 1 orange
- ¾ cup chopped walnuts, pecans, or almonds
Icing
- 4 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar/icing sugar
- 1 tablespoon orange or lemon juice
Instructions
- Soak the fruit: Combine sultanas, cranberries, and finely chopped prunes in a bowl with brandy and orange juice. Stir well and let the mixture soak for 4 hours to plump up the dried fruits and infuse them with flavor.
- Prepare the baking pan and oven: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) or gas mark 5. Grease a 23 cm square baking pan with 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil, then line it with parchment paper to prevent sticking. Set aside.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, mixed spice, and a pinch of sea salt. This ensures even distribution of the leavening agents and spices.
- Combine wet ingredients: In another bowl, beat the eggs, sugar, and vegetable oil together for about 2 minutes until the mixture becomes fluffy. Then add the chopped nuts, soaked fruit mixture along with any remaining liquid, and orange zest, stirring to combine.
- Combine wet and dry: Gradually add the dry flour mixture to the wet ingredients and fold gently using a spatula or spoon. Be careful not to overmix; just combine until the batter is homogeneous.
- Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and smooth the top with a spatula. Place the pan in the center of the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Once baked, remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool in the pan for 10 minutes.
- Cool completely: Carefully lift the cake out using the parchment paper and transfer it to a cooling rack. Let it cool completely before icing.
- Prepare and apply icing: Mix the confectioners’ sugar with 1 tablespoon of orange or lemon juice until smooth to make a glaze. Drizzle this icing evenly over the cooled cake. Optionally, scatter additional citrus zest on top for garnish. Serve and enjoy your healthy fruit cake traybake!
Notes
- Soaking the dried fruits enhances their texture and infuses the cake with moisture and flavor.
- Use any combination of nuts such as walnuts, pecans, or almonds according to your preference.
- Ensure not to overmix the batter after adding the flour to keep the cake tender.
- The glaze can be adjusted in thickness by adding more or less citrus juice.
- Storage: Keep the cake covered in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
