Japanese Fruitcake Food

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.

NANA'S JAPANESE FRUITCAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees with racks placed in center. Spread nuts on a baking pan. Bake until fragrant, about 7 minutes. Transfer nuts to a bowl; set aside to cool.
• Line the bottoms of three 8-by-2-inch buttered cake pans with parchment paper, and butter the parchment. Dust the bottoms and sides of pan with flour, and tap out any excess. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside. Finely chop the raisins, and combine with the cinnamon and allspice. Set aside.
• With an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together the sugar and shortening on medium speed until combined. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. On low speed, add the flour mixture and the milk to the batter, alternating between the two, starting and ending with the dry ingredients.
• Fold the reserved raisin mixture into one-third of the batter. Pour batter into one cake pan. Stir the reserved toasted walnuts into the remaining batter. Divide batter between two remaining cake pans. Bake, rotating pans for even baking if necessary, until a cake tester inserted in the middle comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Transfer to cooling racks to cool, and invert cakes onto cooling rack. Allow to cool completely.
• Combine the pineapple, oranges, 2 cups coconut, and sugar in a medium saucepan. Bring filling to a boil over high heat, stirring. Reduce to a simmer, and let cook, stirring often, until thickened, about 20 minutes. Whisk the cornstarch into 1/4 cup warm water. Stir into filling. Continue to cook until thick, 6 minutes. Let cool before using.
• Place one walnut layer top-side down on the serving plate. Top with half of the filling. Place the raisin layer, top-side up, securely on top, press down lightly. Using an offset spatula, go around the layers to press filling between layers. Top with remaining filling. Place remaining walnut layer on top, top-side up. Press down with hands. Using the offset spatula, go around layers again to ensure filling is securely between layers. Frost the sides of the cake first, using an offset spatula. Finish icing the top of the cake. Decorate top of cake with drained candied orange zest and remaining coconut. Serve.

HOMEMADE JAPANESE FRUIT CAKE

Steps:

• 1. Plain and fruit layers: Use 1/2 batter for 1 plain layer-take the other 1/2 and mix with fruit batter. Pour into greased and floured cake pans-Bake at 350 degrees until done-approximately 25-30 minutes for plain layers. 30-40 minutes for the fruit layers-test with toothpicks.
• 2. Icing for cake: Cook over medium heat until thick. You can add coconut to the batter before spreading onto the layers. After cake has been totally iced, take coconut and put on outside of cake. Decorate with cherries or pecans. Makes a beautiful cake for the holidays.

JAPANESE FRUITCAKE

Steps:

• Cake:.
• Cream butter; gradually add sugar, beating well at medium speed with an electric mixer. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Combine flour, and baking powder, add to creamed mixture alternately with milk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Mix after each addition, stir in vanilla.
• Divide batter in half, stir spices and raisins into one hals. Pour plain batter into 2 greased and floured 9 inch round cake pans; por spiced batter into 2 greased and floured 9 inch round cake pans.Bake at 350F for 20-25 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes, remove from pans, cool completely on wire racks.
• Spread filling between layers. Spread frosting on top and sides of cake.
• Filling:.
• Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan, stirring until cornatarch dissolves. Cook over medium heat , stirring constantly 1 minute or until thickened and bubbly.Cool completely, before spreading on cake. ( 3 1/3 cups).
• Frosting:.
• Combine all ingredients except vanilla in top of a large double boiler. Beat at low speed with an electric mixer 30 seconds or just until blended.
• Place over boiling water, beat constantly on high speed 7 minutes or until stiff peak form. Remove from heat. Add vanilla; beat 2 minutes or until frosting is thick enough to spread. (4 1/2 cups).

JAPANESE FRUIT CAKE

Steps:

• --DARK LAYERS--.
• Mix together all ingredients except raisins, orange peel and nuts. Grind these or chop fine and mix with the cake mixture. Bake in 9" cake pans until done at 350 degrees. --.
• --WHITE LAYERS--.
• Mix and bake in layers, 9" pans at 350 degrees until done. --.
• --FILLING--.
• Mix ingredients together and cook about 20 minutes, stirring constantly, let cool a little and spread between layers of cooled cake layers.
• This recipe makes 2 cakes. Split each cake into half so that you have 2 layers each of light and dark cakes. Alternate layers when putting fruitcake together so that you have 1 dark, 1 white, 1 dark, 1 white layer.

JAPANESE FRUIT CAKE MY MOM USED TO MAKE

Steps:

• TO MAKE CAKE: Cream butter.
• Gradually add sugar beating w/mixer on medium speed.
• Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Combine flour& baking powder; add to creamed mixture alternately with milk, beginning& ending w/flour mixture, mixing well after each addition.
• Stir in vanilla extract.
• Pour 1/3 of batter into well buttered& floured 9" round cake pan.
• Stir cinnamon& next 3 ingredients into the remaining batter.
• Pour into 2 well-buttered& floured 9" round cake pans.
• Bake at 350 degrees F for 20 to 25 minutes or until knife blade inserted in center comes out clean.
• Cool in pans 10 minutes, remove& cool completely on racks.
• Spread frosting between layers, on top& sides.
• Stack white layer between the 2 spiced layers.
• Garnish with pecan halves.
• FROSTING: Dissolve cornstarch in 1/2 cup water; set aside.
• Bring remaining 1 cup water to boiling in medium saucepan.
• Stir in the sugar, rind& juice.
• Return to a boil.
• Cook to soft ball stage (236 degrees F), stirring often.
• Gradually add to cornstarch mixture& continue.
• stirring.
• Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thick& bubbly.
• Remove from heat, stir in coconut.
• Cool.
• Stir frosting before spreading on cake.

JAPANESE FRUIT CAKE II

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour 4 (9 inch) round cake pans. Toss together the raisins, coconut and pecans in 1 cup of the flour until coated. Set aside.
• Cream butter and 2 cups sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in yolks one at a time. Sift together remaining 2 cups flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. Add to creamed mixture, alternating with milk, mix until blended. Fold in raisin, pecan and coconut mixture.
• In a clean bowl, whip egg whites until stiff peaks develop. Fold into batter until no streaks remain.
• Divide batter into four 9 inch baking pans (about 1 1/2 to 2 cups per pan). Bake in preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes, then turn out onto wire racks to finish cooling.
• To make the filling: Mix 2 cups sugar and 1/4 cup flour in a saucepan, add water and stir until dissolved. Chop lemons and oranges into small pieces and add to saucepan. Bring to a boil and cook until thick, about 10 minutes. Add 2 cups coconut. Allow to cool.
• Assemble cake with filling between layers, and ending with filling on top.

JAPANESE FRUIT CAKE

Steps:

• Eggless Cake: Put sugar in mixing bowl.
• Add spices then buttermilk slowly mixing together.
• Mix together flour, soda raisins and nuts and add to buttermilk mixture.
• Blend thoroughly.
• Put in two 8 inch layer pans and cook at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.
• Japanese Fruit Cake Filling: Combine all ingredients and cook until thick.
• Put between cake layers.

JAPANESE FRUITCAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Butter insides of 2 9-inch layer cake pans. Sprinkle with flour and shake out excess.
• Cream together sugar and 1/2 pound of butter in mixing bowl until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Sift together 3 1/3 cups flour and baking powder and add mixture to batter alternately with milk and vanilla.
• Spoon and scrape half batter into one of prepared pans and smooth over top with spatula. Set aside.
• To remaining batter add allspice, cinnamon and cloves.
• Chop raisins and pecans and add them. Blend well. Spoon and scrape mixture into second pan. Smooth over top. Place in oven and bake 25 to 35 minutes or until straw inserted into center comes out clean. White cake will cook faster than fruit-and-nut cake.
• Remove layers from oven and let cool on rack about 5 minutes. Turn cakes out onto rack and let stand until completely cool.
• To prepare filling, combine 1 cup of water, lemon juice, lemon rind, 2 cups of coconut and sugar in saucepan. Bring to a boil.
• Combine cornstarch with the remaining 1/2 cup of water. Blend well and stir this into sauce. Cook over moderately low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture mounds or lumps when dropped from spoon (the temperature should be 205 to 210 degrees). Let cool.
• Place fruit-and-nut cake on cake plate and frost the top. Top this with white cake. Frost cake, top and sides. Sprinkle remaining coconut over the cake. The cake may be served immediately but is best if left to stand a day or so.