Apricot Fruitcake Food

APRICOT & ALMOND FRUITCAKE

Steps:

• Mix the sultanas and sherry and set aside for 1 hr to soak.
• Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Grease a deep, 23cm loose-bottomed cake tin, and line the base and sides with a double layer of baking parchment that comes about 2.5cm above the sides of the tin. In your largest mixing bowl, beat the butter, sugar and vanilla together until pale and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one by one.
• Stir in the flour, baking powder, and the ground and flaked almonds. Next, add the soaked sultanas with any remaining sherry, the dried apricots, the mixed peel, and all the zest and juice. Scrape into the cake tin, smoothing out the surface.
• Bake on the middle shelf of the oven for 1 hr 25 mins. Poke with a skewer in the centre to check it is cooked - if the skewer comes out with any uncooked mixture stuck to it, bake for 10 mins more before checking again. Cool in the tin. Decorated, or wrapped in greaseproof paper and foil, the cake will keep for up to a month.

APRICOT FRUITCAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 275 degrees F (135 degrees C). Grease two 9 inch tube pans.
• In a saucepan over medium heat cook apricots in the water until they are mushy. Press them through a sieve and let them cool.
• Separate the eggs. Beat the egg yolks until lemony colored. Then beat the egg whites until stiff peaks are formed. Set aside.
• Cream the butter or margarine and sugar together. Add the beaten egg yolks and the apricots, and mix thoroughly.
• Combine the raisins, candied cherries, candied pineapple, and mixed dried fruits in a bowl coated with one cup of the flour.
• Combine the remaining flour, baking soda, and salt. Add this flour mixture alternately to the creamed mixture with the apricot juice. Blend this batter into the mixed fruits. Add the chopped pecans or walnuts and fold in the beaten egg whites. Turn the batter into the prepared pans.
• Bake at 275 degrees F (135 degrees C) for 2 hours. Garnish cakes with candied pineapples and cherries. Makes about 24 servings.

APRICOT AND MACADAMIA FRUITCAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300. Grease and lightly flour six 1-cup molds or one 9x5x3 loaf pan.
• In a small saucepan bring 1/2 cup apricot nectar just to boiling. Remove from heat and stir in apricots and raisins. Cover and let stand 10 minutes.
• In a large mixing bowl whip butter then beat in sugar, beating till combined.
• Add eggs one at a time.
• In a small bowl, combine the 1/4 cup apricot brandy, the 1/4 cup nectar and vanilla.
• In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking soda and salt. Add the flour mixture and nectar mixture alternately to butter mixture, beating on low speed after each addition just until combined.
• Fold soaked fruit and chopped nuts into batter. Spread into prepared pan.
• Bake for 40 to 45 minutes for small pans or 70 minutes for the loaf pan. Cool cake in pans on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove from pans and cool completely on a wire rack.
• Poke holes into cake using a pick or skewer. Soak the cotton cheesecloth with the remaining 1/2 cup apricot brandy, wrap the cake and drizzle any remaining brandy over the cake. Wrap tightly in foil.
• Refrigerate for up to 5 days. Drizzle with the remaining 1/3 cup nectar after 24 hours.
• For longer storage, freeze for up to 3 months.

APRICOT FRUITCAKE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the fruits, nuts, honey, water and lemon juice; set aside. , In another large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs. Fold into fruit mixture. Combine dry ingredients; gradually fold into the fruit mixture until evenly coated. Pour into two greased and waxed paper-lined 9x5-in. loaf pans. , With a shallow pan of water in the bottom of the oven, bake at 275° for 2-1/2 hours or until cake tests done. Cover with foil during the last 30 minutes. , Cool 10 minutes; remove to wire rack to cool completely. Remove waxed paper and wrap each cake in foil. Place in plastic bags and store in a cool, dry place.

THE BEST FRUITCAKE

Steps:

• Combine the raisins, currants, apricots, figs, prunes, dates, walnuts, pecans, orange zest, lemon zest, candied ginger, pumpkin pie spice and cloves in a large bowl and toss to combine. Add 1 cup of the brandy, orange liqueur and molasses and stir to coat. Cover and set aside to macerate overnight. (Alternatively, cover the bowl and microwave 2 minutes, or until very hot. Leave covered and let sit until almost all the liquid has been absorbed into the fruit and nuts, about 2 hours.)
• Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F. Spray two 9-by-5-inch loaf pans with nonstick cooking spray and line each with 2 pieces of parchment, one lengthwise and one crosswise, leaving a 2-inch overhang on each side. Spray the parchment with cooking spray.
• Sprinkle 1/2 cup flour over the soaked fruit mixture and toss to coat. Whisk together the remaining 1 1/2 cups flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a large bowl.
• Cream the butter and brown sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment on medium-high until light and fluffy, about 1 minute. Add the eggs, one at a time, making sure each is fully incorporated before adding the next and scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Beat in the vanilla. Reduce the speed to medium-low and beat in the flour mixture until the batter is blended and smooth. Pour the batter over the fruit mixture and fold with a rubber spatula until all the fruit is coated in batter.
• Divide the mixture evenly between the two prepared pans, filling each about 3/4 full. Bake until the cakes begin to pull away from the sides of the pans, the tops spring back slightly when pressed and a cake tester comes out clean, about 1 1/2 hours. Transfer to a wire rack and brush with the remaining 2 tablespoons brandy. Let the cakes cool in the pans for about 15 minutes. Carefully remove each cake from its pan using the parchment overhang and place on the rack to cool completely.
• To store, wrap each loaf tightly in plastic and then foil. The wrapped fruitcakes can be stored in a cool, dry place for up to 3 months.

FIGGIE FRUITCAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Spray 2 sheets 2-ounce oval flexible molds with nonstick cooking spray.
• In a medium saucepot, heat 2 cups water until a candy thermometer inserted in the water reads 110 degrees F. Add the figs, apples, apricots, cranberries and raisins, then remove from the heat and soak the fruit.
• Sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda, Stolen Spice and salt in a medium bowl. In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the brown sugar, vanilla and butter for 3 to 5 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, scraping down the sides of the bowl before each addition. Reduce the speed to low and add the flour. Once incorporated, scrape down the sides of the bowl and increase the speed to medium for 30 seconds. Pour the fruit mix, soaking water, pecans and orange peel in the mixing bowl and mix until combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and increase the speed to medium for 30 seconds. Using a 2-inch ice cream scoop, scoop the batter into the molds and bake for 25 to 30 minutes. Cool completely before unmolding.
• In a small saucepot set over low heat, melt the apricot glaze. Brush the glaze on the fruitcakes and cool. Serve at room temperature.
• In a small bowl, mix the chili powder, paprika, cumin, brown sugar, garlic powder, cayenne, black pepper, white pepper and salt. Add in the oil and mix well.

DRIED CHERRY-ALMOND FRUITCAKE

Steps:

• For cake:
• Preheat oven to 325°F. Butter and flour 10-inch-diameter nonstick angel food cake pan. Line bottom with parchment paper. Toss first 4 ingredients with 1/2 cup flour in large bowl to coat.
• Whisk remaining 1 1/2 cups flour, baking powder, and salt in medium bowl to blend. Using electric mixer, beat butter and both sugars in another large bowl until fluffy. Beat in eggs 1 at a time, blending well after each addition. Beat in rum, maple syrup, and vanilla. Add flour mixture and beat until just combined. Stir in dried fruit mixture. Spoon batter into prepared pan, flattening to eliminate air pockets. Bake until tester inserted near center of cake comes out clean and cake is deep golden brown, about 1 hour 30 minutes. Cool in pan 15 minutes.
• For syrup:
• Whisk rum and maple syrup in bowl. Spoon half over warm cake in pan. Let stand until absorbed. Cut around cake to loosen; invert onto platter. Peel off paper. Spoon remaining syrup over cake. Let stand about 4 hours. (Can be made ahead. Cover and store at room temperature 1 day or chill up to 1 week.)

DRIED FRUIT FRUITCAKE

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine first 9 ingredients. Bring to a boil over medium high heat, then reduce to low & cook 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat & cool to room temperature.
• Preheat oven to 275 degrees F, then grease & flour a 12-cup Bundt pan.
• In a large bowl, combine the next 6 ingredients which are dry, then stir in the lightly beaten eggs, the almond extract, and the cooled fruit mixture, & combine well.
• Spoon batter into the prepared Bundt pan & bake for at least 2 hours & 20 minutes. Toothpick in the center should come out clean.
• Cool in the pan on a wire rack for 20 minutes, then unmold onto a serving plate & cool completely.

APRICOT OAT CAKES

Steps:

• Thoroughly grind rolled oats in food processor or blender. Mix with flour and baking powder.
• In a separate bowl, "cream" together yogurt, dry sweetner, honey and vanilla. In yet another bowl, lightly beat egg white until it gets bubbly but not stiff. Fold egg white into wet ingredients. Add dried fruit.
• Combine wet and dry ingredients. The dough gets pretty stiff and is hard to mix. You may even have to dive in there with your hands and squish it together. Add water if the mixture is too dry. Form into 12 patties.
• Bake at 325 degrees F for 15 minutes on a non-stick cookie sheet. Cool completely and store in refrigerator. These keep well and may be frozen.