Mini Christmas Cakes
Delightful little cakes perfect for gifting during the festive season, packed with rich flavors and easy to customize.
Ingredients
For the fruit soaking
- 300 g raisins For soaking
- 150 g diced dried apricots, chopped into 8 mm For soaking
- 75 g mixed peel, diced into 5 mm For soaking
- 150 g glace cherries, chopped into 8 mm For soaking
- 180 g dates, diced into 5 mm For soaking
- 1 cup + 2 tbsp apple juice (or 1/3 brandy + 2/3 juice) For soaking
For the cake
- 115 g unsalted butter, softened (1 US stick)
- 1.5 cups brown sugar, packed (or dark brown sugar for a darker crumb)
- 0.5 cup vegetable oil (or canola, peanut, grapeseed)
- 3 tbsp molasses or golden syrup
- 0.5 tsp salt
- 0.5 tsp allspice
- 0.5 tsp cinnamon
- 0.5 tsp nutmeg
- 3 eggs
- 0.5 tsp baking powder
- 1.67 cups plain flour (all-purpose flour)
- 0.75 cup walnuts, chopped (optional)
For decoration
- 1.5 cups soft icing sugar / powdered sugar
- 15 g unsalted butter, softened for icing
- 0.5 tsp vanilla
- 1.5 - 3 tbsp milk
- Icing sugar, for dusting
- Christmas fondant – see directions below
Instructions
Fast Soaked Fruit
- Soak the raisins, apricots, mixed peel, cherries, and dates in apple juice (or the brandy and juice mix) for about 1 hour.
Cake Preparation
- Preheat the oven to 160°C (320°F). Grease and line mini cake tins.
- In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
- Mix in the vegetable oil, molasses, and soaked fruit (with juice).
- Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
- In another bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, salt, allspice, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until just combined. If using, fold in the walnuts.
- Spoon the mixture into the prepared cake tins, filling them about three-quarters full.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow them to cool.
Decorating, Gifting, and Serving
- Once the cakes are cool, roll out the Christmas fondant and cut it to size to cover each mini cake.
- Dust with icing sugar for a beautiful finish. They can be wrapped in cellophane or placed in small gift boxes for gifting.
Notes
Make sure to soak the fruits adequately for the best flavor. Use fresh ingredients for the best taste. For an extra festive touch, drizzle some warm brandy over the cakes before serving.