Soaking dry fruits for all your Christmas and Holiday bakes is an easy thing to do. If you like rich, boozy fruit cake then this is your thing. I’m sharing my version here, the way I soak dry fruits to bake the Rich Fruit Cake for Christmas every year. Also, the jar of soaked dry fruits is a wonderful gifting option to your near and dear ones. 🙂
How to soak Dry Fruits for Rich Fruit Cake
Soaking dry fruits for all your Christmas and Holiday bakes is an easy thing to do. If you like rich, boozy fruit cake then this is your thing.
Ingredients
Nuts
- 100g- Almonds
- 100g- Cashew nuts
- 25g- Pistachios
Dried fruits
- 50g- Sultana/Golden raisins
- 50g- Currants
- 50g- Tutti frutti
- 25g- Glazed cherries
- 25g- Dried Apricots
- 25g- Dates
Alcohol
- Rum or Brandy as required
Instructions
-
Chop the nuts, dates, and apricots. Cut the glazed cherries into slices lengthwise. I don’t chop raisins and currants but depending on your preference you can chop them.
-
Mix all the fruits and nuts in a bowl. Now transfer them to a clean wide-mouth glass container/jar with a tight lid. Pour rum or brandy on this. The dry fruits and nuts should be covered completely with alcohol. Stir gently with a clean, dry spoon to mix everything well. Close the lid.
-
Keep this in a cool, dark place. And don’t forget to stir this mixture after 2-3 days. Keep doing this until you bake the cake.
-
You’ll notice the alcohol quantity will reduce with time; this is natural because the fruits absorb the alcohol. So, add some more rum/brandy at this stage. The top layer of fruits needs to be covered with alcohol always.
Recipe Notes
- You can add candied peel into this. Add candied orange peel and candied ginger peel 2 tbsp each if using.
- This fruit mixture can be stored up to one year.
- Keep the jar refrigerated if the weather is hot and humid.
- The minimum time duration of soaking the dry fruits is one week before baking the cake.
- Always store the fruit mixture in a glass container.
Hello , how to make a non-alcoholic version of this?
Soak all the fruits and candied peels in orange juice for 24 hrs. Strain and use for cake.
When will you post the recipe for the cake? I will soak this today 🙂
Hi Jaya, Pretty soon! 🙂
This looks so rich and perfect. I have prepared once Alton Brown Christmas Cake – it was yum!! When I will share mine, I will link to yours.
its almost a year ..no recipe…heheheh..i already put my fruits in brandy for over a week now..i have some idea so now just seeking for a good recipe…
I washed the raisins before soaking in alcohol… Is it going to be a problem?
Hi Priya! No it’s not a problem at all. You can proceed further.
would like to make fruit cake in the next few days could I soak fruit for over night only
Hi Norma! Yes, you can soak the fruits for a night only. But, there wouldn’t be much intense rum flavour into the fruits in that case.
Hi I have soaked my dry fruits in red wine.I don’t want my cake to be too much alcoholic. So in between when the wine gets dry what can I add into it?
Hi Mitoshi! When dry fruits absorb the liquid, you need to pour the same alcohol once again.
I had soaked cashews, raisins, cherries last year in Rum and kept it in the refrigerator, can I still use the mixture…..how can we decide if the mixture is still good??
Hi Chetana! I hope you can use them. Taste those soaked fruits, if they taste OK, then go ahead.
Hi I have soaked the fruits in rum( black currant, cashew nuts, dates,prunes &raisins) & its been 10 days now.. every alternative day I used to open the jar n give a mix too.. but ithe fruits fully absorbed the liquid , if I add more rum, it Wil give a different taste to the cake or is it okay? Pls give ur suggestions
Hi Roshna! Adding rum is absolutely fine if the fruits have soaked up the alcohol. I’ve mentioned this in the recipe too. It wouldn’t change the taste of the cake. Hope this helps.
If I don’t want to use any alcohol what else can I soak dry fruits in for the fruit cake
Hi Mary, you can soak the dry fruits in orange juice. Check this recipe http://notoutofthebox.in/2015/11/eggless-orange-fruit-cake/
Where does one get tutti frutti?
Hi, Tutti Frutti is coloured candid fruits, you can get it from the nearby grocery store.
There is slightly bitter taste in my soaked dry fruits, is it normal?
Hi Maya, Yes, that is absolutely normal. Please go ahead with the further steps, Happy Baking! 🙂