25 December 2013

Christmas Plum cake - Kerala style (Alcohol free)




christmas_kerala_plum_cake

 "Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful."~Norman Vincent Peale

I guess that's why I bake usually on Christmas eve :p as I know for sure everything will turn out softer and more beautiful :D. Hallelujah.............

christmas_kerala_plum_cake


Actually ,that's not exactly a joke but that's how it is to me..because first of all I don't bake a lot as Honey P is not a big cake fan and when I do it's ususally on some special occasions and especially on Christmas eve and just like the saying above whatever I bake for sure comes out much softer and beautiful I believe ..well,Christmas is in the air and christmas is in the heart and therefore Christmas is in my oven too :D ....

christmas_kerala_plum_cake

That being said, that's not just to it ,I definitely second the saying above in every way ...so ,true ...Christmas waves a magic wand !!! especially in this chilly windy winter which I detest like anything ,I hardly feel like stepping out of my home ,I hardly feel like wrapping myself with those woolen clothes it's the Christmas in the air which as if says ,"Come on girl,get out of your comfort zone (home) and look out ,it's beautiful out there" ..as if saying ,"Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder". It is not always bad,if you know how to find good in everything.....I believe that's one of the prime message of this festivity season...

christmas_kerala_plum_cake

Can't agree more actually,because it is !!! I step out at day and I find every single person glowing , at night all those beautiful decoration outside everyone's home-big and small just makes you smile ,a christmas-y visual treat it is and if it's snowing heavily you won't feel like complaining either because that makes a perfect white christmas and lo and behold ,"Manju is in wonderland !!"....I think this is the best and my favourite season to be in USof A. Thank you my lord for this blessing, it certainly, for this, snow,winter and festivity numbs all my worries and makes me cheerful again :)..

kerala_plum_cake


Also reminds me ,Charles Dickens saying ,"Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childish days; that can recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth; that can transport the sailor and the traveller, thousands of miles away, back to his own fire-side and his quiet home!"

Well,who can disagree to that :))...same here I also become nostalgic ,it undoubtedly transports me back to the wonderful bygone days ...back in India when I was small I had neighbors who were Christian and months before they get ready to celebrate Christmas by decorating their home with all those blinking ad sparkling lights,a Christmas tree on the courtyard with all goodies and a glowing star on the top and then a biig star hanging outside the patio and the Christmas carol ,that though I hardly understood or knew was soothing and meant for me ,"Happy Birthday lord Jesus !!"...O how I looked forward to December then!!..and every Christmas we got invitation at their home where aunty would serve us with traditional kerala food like spongy appam and spicy beef fry for the breakfast followed by lunch - Chorrum,meenum,kappa (Rice,spicy fish curry,Tapioca) and other Christian delicacies ....and what really makes me dead nostlagic is recalling my friend and myself giggling and enjoying every bit of none other than one of the most integral food of Christmas ,"Plum cake" .

christmas_kerala_plum_cake


Now that those days are gone ,feels more like a dream ,like snowflakes ,I try to rekindle and recreate those precious memories of Christmas by baking the season's cake- the Plum cake and moreover if there is one cake my man loves the most ,"Kerala Plum cake" its is...So, Christmas makes me bake ,no matter what it takes, a yummy Plum cake " :D....

By the way I wonder why it's called Plum cake when it's just not the plum fruit that goes into it there are many other fruit pieces too and If I were to name it I would have named it ,"RUM CAKE" because soaking all the fruits in the rum is what makes this cake stand apart from the rest .Though this time I opted an alcohol free version and my verdict ,definitely it's not exactly as flavorful like the rum version but soaking it in orange juice (longer) didn't make it less flavorful ,every bite will for sure say,"it is plum cake". Rum's kick may be absent but orange juice's acidic properties does the ultimate trick.

This is how I make my Plum cake -


Christmas Plum cake

Ingredients


All Purpose Flour /Maida (Sifted) - 1 cup
Butter (room temperature) - 3/4 cup
Brown Sugar - 1 cup
Egg (room temperature) - 4 nos.
Baking Powder - 1 1/2 teaspoons
Dry fruit mix (Plum,Apricot,Raisin,tutti-fruti) - 1/2 cup
Cashewnuts - 1/4 cup
Vanilla extract - 1 teaspoon
Orange juice - 1/2 cup or enough to soak the fruit

For the spice powders :

Cinnamon powder - 1/4 teaspoon
Nutmeg powder - 1/4 teaspoon
Ginger powder - 1/4 teaspoon

For the caramel :

Granulated sugar - 1/2 cup
Water- 1/2 cup

                                                           Doily and fondant for decoration

Method:

  • Soak all dry fruit mix ,cashewnuts in orange juice and keep it overnight in a bottle at room temperature AT LEAST or for the best flavor keep it for 2-3 weeks or longer the better.



  • Preheat oven at 350 degrees F/180 degrees C.
  • In a heavy bottom pan,add sugar and a tablespoon of water on medium high heat.
  • Once the sugar starts melting,swirl it instead of stirring it until it becomes a dark brown color.
  • Turn off the heat, add 1/2 cup of water and stir well - Caramel is ready.

  • Cream together butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
  • Add the eggs one at a time while mixing/creaming.
  • Fold in the flour,baking powder and all dry spice powders.
  • Pour the caramel and beat everything until creamy and well combined.
  • Pour the soaked and drained dry fruit-nut mix and mix everything well.
  • Grease the cake pan and pour the cake batter up to the half of the cake pan.
  • Bake it for 45-60 minutes or until a skewer/knife/toothpick inserted into it comes out clean, and then cake is ready.
  • Let it cool on a wire rack.
  • Once cooled place a doily on top of the cake,sprinkle powdered sugar and decorate with leaves made with fondants.
Notes:
  • This is an alcohol free version so I used orange juice instead of the traditional rum .
  • Use white sugar if you wish ,brown sugar is not necessary .
  • Use any dry fruit mix or any nut mix like almonds,walnuts,dates etc.Choice is yours.Chop into small pieces all dry fruits well before soaking in rum or orange juice as per your choice.Longer the soaking ,better the authentic flavor .I soaked for 2 weeks but usually it can be soaked since or for a year.Longer the better.
  • Before mixing the soaked fruit-nut mix into the batter,rub them in flour well so that they will be distributed evenly in the cake.
  • Before creaming butter-sugar using whisker ,mix it with hand once for extra softness.
  • Before putting the batter into the oven , tap the cake pan with batter to release the air bubbles.So that it bakes well and evenly.
  • I used a doily to decorate the top of the cake with powdered sugar and used colored fondant to make leaves for decoration.
 
christmas_kerala_plum_cake
I used less caramel.I don't prefer the darkest version.

Hope everyone had a memorable Christmas . Here's wishing virtually,"Happy Birthday Lord Jesus.!!"...in my every good act and thought I see your (God's) presence (better than in any church,temple or mosque) ,bless me and everyone to have the same forever and make this world a beautiful worthy place to live in...Amen to that !!

Happy belated Christmas wishes from us to the world,







Sending this to - Sharanya's event ,"Let's cook for christmas"