Fruit Spiced Cake (Printable View)

An aromatic sweet treat with dried fruits and warm spices, perfect for cozy moments.

# Ingredient List:

→ Dried Fruits

01 - 1 cup mixed dried fruit (raisins, currants, chopped apricots, or dates)
02 - 1/4 cup dried cranberries

→ Liquids

03 - 1/2 cup orange juice (or apple juice)
04 - 1/2 cup whole milk

→ Dry Ingredients

05 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
06 - 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
07 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
08 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
09 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
10 - 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
11 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
12 - 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

→ Wet Ingredients

13 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
14 - 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
15 - 2 large eggs
16 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Optional

17 - 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

# How to Prepare:

01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a 9-inch round or loaf pan.
02 - Combine mixed dried fruit and cranberries in a small bowl. Pour orange juice over and soak for 15 minutes.
03 - Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice in a medium bowl.
04 - In a large bowl, cream softened butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla.
05 - Add dry ingredients to the wet mixture in two batches, alternating with milk, mixing until just combined.
06 - Gently fold in the soaked dried fruits with their juice and optional nuts.
07 - Pour batter into prepared pan, smooth the surface, and bake for 50 to 55 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
08 - Allow cake to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It stays moist for days, getting better as flavors settle together.
  • The spice blend creates this unexpected depth that somehow tastes both cozy and sophisticated.
  • You can throw it together in under an hour with ingredients most people already have.
02 -
  • Orange juice is more than flavoring—it's moisture insurance that keeps this cake tender even days later.
  • Don't skip the 15-minute fruit soak; dried fruit straight from the bag will pull moisture from your batter and make it dense.
03 -
  • Always bring eggs to room temperature before baking; cold eggs won't incorporate smoothly into the batter.
  • If you only have whole dried cranberries, chop them into smaller pieces so they distribute evenly through the cake.

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