Amishi 's Kitchen : QUICK EGGLESS CHRISTMAS FRUIT CAKE ( NON ALCOHOLIC)

HO! HO! HO! It's Christmas time and Christmas celebrations are not complete without a nice cake loaded with yummy dry fruits and nuts. This is a quick version of the Christmas cake which does not require them to be soaked in alcohol.
I've soaked the dry fruits in orange juice, you can also soak them in grape juice. Soak them for 5-6 hours or overnight.
I've used half all purpose flour (maida) and half whole wheat flour (aata), you can also use only maida to bake this cake. I haven't tried with full whole wheat flour so can't tell about the outcome.
I got two cakes from these ingredients one heart shaped and one round. If you want a smaller cake you can half the recipe.
So get your dry fruits and nuts out and get ready to welcome Christmas.

INGREDIENTS

1 cup whole wheat flour (aata)

1 cup all purpose flour (maida)

1 cup brown sugar/demerara sugar (regular powdered sugar can also be used, but the colour may differ a bit)

1 cup water
2/3 cup oil

1 tea spoon baking powder

1/2 tea spoon baking soda

1 cup orange juice to soak the dry fruits ( Grape juice can also be used)

Mixed Spice Powder

1/2 tea spoon cardamom (elaichi ) powder

1/2 tea spoon cinnamon (dalchini) powder

1/4 tea spoon nutmeg (jaiphal) powder

2 cups of mixed dry fruits and nuts (chopped)

I have used brown raisins, black raisins, tutti frutti, glazed cherries, almonds, cashews, walnuts.

You can even add dates, candies orange or lemon peels, cranberries, prunes the more the merrier.

METHOD

1. Soak all the dry fruits in one cup orange juice and keep them in the refrigerator overnight. If you want some extra crunch keep the nuts aside and only soak the dry fruits.
2. Sieve maida, aata, baking powder, baking soda and all spice powder together and keep aside.
3. Take brown sugar in a bowl and add 1 cup warm water to it and mix till it dissolves.
4. Add oil to it and mix again.
5. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and gently mix till everything is mixed nicely.
6. Add the soaked dry fruits and nuts. If you've kept the nuts separately then dust them with flour and then add them to the batter.
7. Pre heat the oven to 160 degrees.
8. Pour the batter in greased baking tin and bake for 40 - 45 minutes or till the skewer or toothpick comes out clean.

PICTORIAL GUIDE

1. Soak all the dry fruits in one cup orange juice and keep them in the refrigerator overnight. If you want some extra crunch keep the nuts aside and only soak the dry fruits.

2. Sieve maida, aata, baking powder, baking soda and all spice powder together and keep aside.

3. Take brown sugar in a bowl and add 1 cup warm water to it and mix till it dissolves.

4. Add oil to it and mix again.

5. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and gently mix till everything is mixed nicely.

6. Add the soaked dry fruits and nuts. If you've kept the nuts separately then dust them with flour and then add them to the batter.

7. Pre heat the oven to 160 degrees.
8. Pour the batter in greased baking tin and bake for 40 - 45 minutes or till the skewer or toothpick comes out clean.