Chocolate Orange Fruitcake With Pecans Recipes

CHOCOLATE-ORANGE FRUITCAKE WITH PECANS

Steps:

• For cake:
• Position rack in bottom third of oven and preheat to 325°F. Generously butter and flour 12-cup angel food cake pan. Combine toasted pecans, chopped dried figs, prunes, dates, orange juice concentrate, Grand Marnier and grated orange peel in large bowl. Let stand 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Sift flour, cocoa, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda and salt into medium bowl. Combine brown sugar and 6 ounces chocolate in processor and chop into small pieces.
• Using electric mixer, beat butter and cream cheese in large bowl to blend. Add chocolate mixture and beat until fluffy. Beat in eggs 1 at a time. Beat in prune butter. Stir in 1/4 of dry ingredients. Mix in fruit mixture and remaining dry ingredients in 3 additions each.
• Transfer batter to prepared pan. Bake cake until tester inserted near center with a few moist crumbs attached, about 1 hour 55 minutes. Cool 5 minutes. Turn pan over onto rack; let stand 5 minutes. Lift off pan; cool cake completely. Wrap cake in plastic and store at room temperature 2 days.
• For Glaze:
• Melt butter in heavy medium saucepan over low heat. Add chocolate; stir until melted and smooth. Whisk in orange juice concentrate.
• Place cake on rack. Spread some of chocolate glaze thickly over top and sides of cake. Refrigerate 15 minutes. Spread remaining chocolate glaze over cake, covering completely. Sprinkle with chopped candied fruit peel, if desired. Refrigerate cake 30 minutes to set glaze. (Fruitcake can be prepared 3 weeks ahead. Wrap cake in plastic and refrigerate.)

PECAN DATE FRUITCAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease and flour or line with parchment paper a 9-inch baking pan (square, round, or Texas shaped) or a 9×5 loaf pan.
• In a mixing bowl together the chopped dates, pecans, coconut, flour, orange zest, salt, cinnamon, and ginger until well combined. Pour in the sweetened condensed milk, and stir until a thick, sticky batter forms.
• Spread the fruitcake batter into the baking pan and then bake uncovered for 30-35 minutes or until the top is lightly brown. Be careful not to over bake it, as it will harden as it cools. Allow to cool for 30 minutes before slicing. The cake can keep in an airtight container for several days. It also freezes well.

CHOCOLATE CHIP FRUITCAKE

Steps:

• In a bowl, beat eggs and sugar. Combine flour, baking powder and salt; add to sugar mixture and mix well. Fold in pecans, dates, cherries and chocolate chips. Pour into a greased 9x5-in. loaf pan. Bake at 325° for 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 hours or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes; remove from pan to a wire rack to cool completely.

WHITE CHOCOLATE ORANGE FRUITCAKE

Steps:

• Note: For dried fruits, use only nectarines, peaches, pears, apricots or apples; do not use figs, dates or raisins.
• In a medium bowl, combine dried fruits and 2/3 cup Grand Marnier; let stand several hours or overnight.
• Preheat oven to 325°F.
• Line a 9-inch springform pan with a round of waxed paper cut to fit the bottom; butter bottom and sides of pan, dust with flour, then tap out excess flour; set aside.
• To make batter, in a large bowl, beat together butter and brown sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Beat in eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Beat in vanilla, orange zest and cinnamon.
• Add white chocolate and beat until mixture is light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Add 1 cup flour and beat until well blended.
• Add remaining 2 tablespoons flour and 1 1/2 cups chopped pecans to fruit mixture and toss to coat well.
• Add to batter and mix thoroughly.
• Turn batter into prepared pan and smooth top.
• Set springform pan in a larger baking pan and add enough hot water to reach 1 inch up side of springform pan.
• Bake 1 hour and 20 to 30 minutes, until a cake tester inserted in center of cake comes out clean; if top is browning too quickly, cover springform with foil the last 1/2 hour of baking.
• Remove springform pan from water bath.
• Sprinkle remaining 1/3 cup Grand Marnier over top of cake and let cool in pan.
• When completely cool, run a sharp knife around edges of pan to loosen cake.
• Remove springform side of pan.
• Carefully remove cake from bottom of pan; peel off wax paper.
• Wrap cake in plastic wrap, then wrap in foil.
• Refrigerate at least 2 to 3 days or up to 2 weeks before serving.
• For longer storage, freeze cake.
• Do not frost at this time.
• To make the white chocolate topping, in a 1 quart glass bowl, heat cream in a microwave oven on high 30-45 seconds, or until very hot.
• Stir in white chocolate, mixing well.
• Return to microwave and heat on medium for 30 to 60 seconds, or until chocolate is melted when stirred.
• Stir in Grand Marnier.
• Cover and refrigerate until glaze thickens to spreading consistency.
• An hour before serving time, unwrap cake and frost evenly with White Chocolate Topping.
• Garnish edge of top of cake with apricot halves.
• Sprinkle additional chopped pecans over center of cake.
• Return to refrigerator until serving time.