Old Fashioned Fresh Fruit Cake Swedish Recipes

FRUKTKAKA (SWEDISH FRUITCAKE .... NOT LIKE AMERICAN FRUITCAKE)

Steps:

• Combine the figs, apricots, raisins, rum, orange zest, and lemon zest in small bowl; cover with plastic wrap and let sit at room temperature for at least 4 hours or as long as overnight.
• Heat oven to 350°F Grease the bottom and sides of a 12 1/4" x 4 1/4" x 2 3/4" loaf pan with butter and dust all over with flour; tap out excess flour and set aside.
• Combine butter and sugar in a large bowl and beat with a handheld mixer set to medium speed until the mixture is pale and fluffy, 1-2 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the reserved fruit-rum mixture and the flour mixture and mix on low speed until just combined.
• Transfer batter to prepared pan and smooth the top with a rubber spatula. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean, 40-45 minutes. Unmold cake onto a wire rack and let cool completely before slicing.

FRUIT CAKE (FRESH FRUIT IN THE SHAPE OF A CAKE)

Steps:

• Lay watermelon on its side. With a large, non-serrated, sharp butcher knife, cut both ends off to form straight edges. Turn watermelon so that it is sitting flat-sides up and down. Carefully trim the rhind off, so it resembles the smooth, straight curve of a round cake.
• Arrange pineapple, strawberries and kiwi however you wish atop the cake and around the bottom. If it is being prepared ahead of time, leave the tops on the strawberries to preserve their freshness.
• Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
• The best way I found to serve it was for our guests to pluck their fruit of choice off the "cake" while I sliced chunks of watermelon as requested.

FRESH FRUIT CAKE

Steps:

• PREHEAT the oven to 180°C.
• Butter a 23cm cake tin, preferably one with a removable base, and sprinkle with the dried breadcrumbs.
• Dust off excess crumbs and set tin aside.
• Cream the butter and sugar together, add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition to incorporate the ingredients.
• Sift in the flour and baking powder together and with a wooden spoon mix the dry ingredients into the creamed mixture with the milk and vanilla paste (and almond extract if using), stirring only enough to incorporate.
• Spoon half the batter into the tin and carefully spoon in the fresh fruit on top of the batter. Then spoon the second half of the batter over the fruit. Don't worry if the batter does not completely cover the fruit. During the cooking process, it will spread and the fruit will be encased in the cake.
• Bake in a pre-heated 180C oven for 50 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the cake comes out clean.
• Remove the cake from the oven and stand for 10 minutes before releasing the sides of the cake tin.
• Serve warm or at room temperature, dusted with icing sugar.

OLD FASHIONED LIGHT FRUITCAKE

Steps:

• Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after additions; stir in brandy flavoring. Combine dry ingredients, pecans, candied fruit, and raisins; mix well. Add fruit to creamed mixture, blending well.
• Spoon batter into a well-greased 10-inch tube pan or two 9x5x3 inch loaf pans lined with brown paper. Bake at 275F for 2 1/2 - 3 hours. Brush top with honey 30 minutes before cake is done; then decorate with additional candied fruit and nuts, if desired. Remove from oven when cake tests done; when completely cool, wrap cake tightly in cheesecloth , and then in aluminum foil, or an airtight container.

OLD-FASHIONED FRESH FRUIT CAKE (SWEDISH)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 175°C (or 350°F).
• Butter and flour a spring form pan.
• Cover the bottom with baking parchment and clip on the ring.
• Sift together flour, baking powder and vanilla into a bowl and set aside.
• Slice the fruit of your choice and toss in a mixture of sugar and cinnamon and set aside.
• Cream eggs and sugar until yellow and fluffy.
• Put buttermilk and butter in a saucepan and bring to a boil.
• Take it of the heat.
• Pour the liquid into the egg batter and blend together.
• Stir in the flour mixture to the batter, carefully.
• Pour a little batter in the bottom of the pan just to coat it.
• Arrange the fruit slices to coat the bottom of the pan.
• Pour in the remaining batter.
• Sprinkle the top with a thin coating of sugar.
• Bake for about 50 minutes try with a stick to see if it comes out clean.
• Let it cool slightly and run a knife around the edges; open the ring and let cool completely.
• Enjoy as is or with ice cream!