Throw away all your preconceived notions about fruitcake.
This Vegan Fruitcake recipe is going to change your mind!
No green and red glaceed cherries here!
This Vegan Fruitcake recipe is loaded up with various dried fruits and nuts and spices galore!
I have been making this recipe for almost a decade and it is always a winner.
Mostly I change up the types of fruits I use each year depending on what sparks my fancy
But this year I used a combination of dried apricots, raisins, pineapple, dates, figs, cranberry and even a fresh pear!
Fresh grated ginger, cloves, anise, cinnamon, allspice and cardamom spice up this fruit cake to exotic proportions!
If you have never tried a fruitcake recipe before I urge you to start with this one
This is not the time to experiment with someone else’s recipe!
Fruitcake is really very delicious and a Christmastime specialty!
The hardest part about the whole thing is chopping up those fruits to tiny pieces
But otherwise this is a one bowl mix- NO MIXERS REQUIRED!
And boy do I love those kinds of recipes!
Yes there is rum in the recipe, but the alcohol gets cooked off in the first stage and then it gets baked too
So you can be sure there is no residual alcohol in the final cake
Just layers and layers of awesome deep fruitcake flavor!
I know many of you are alcohol free no matter what so you can substitute in apple juice for the rum portion, but it will be missing that signature flavor that a fruitcake is known for.
I will also be brushing my final cakes with more rum, and again this is optional *see notes for success below
If you are using the apple juice substitution just brush them with more apple juice infused with some additional spices like cinnamon sticks, anise pods, cloves etc!
I am using a mini loaf pan for individual servings, but this whole recipe can go into 1 standard loaf pan too.
The mini loaf pan I linked above seems to be different than the one I have, mine only has 6 cavities, but either way you will fill the batter almost to the top of the loaf pan no matter what pan size you use.
Last but not least I am also icing mine with buttercream!
This is also optional but believe me it really makes this fruitcake extra special and I’ve even made some extra fruit compote too!
Basically the recipe for the macerated fruits cooked with the rum and butter to go on top for a really impressive individual dessert
A different and special way to give a fruitcake this year!
If the fruitcake is too much for you to take on, try my recipe for
Fruitcake Cookies
Notes for Success:
In traditional fruitcake baking, there are three steps to making the fruitcake:
The actual baking, the aging process, and then proper storage.
The aging process for a true fruitcake is between one and three months, but I am not doing that here.
Fruitcakes soaked in liquor can last for months or even years if you periodically add more liquor, which I do not do.
I am simply giving them a brushing of alcohol after baking and serving mine within days.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT TRADITIONAL FRUITCAKES CLICK HERE
In the video tutorial you will notice I was using the Plant Based Egg as an egg replacer
This product does not seem to be available anymore so I regret using it, but you can easily change it to whatever egg replacer you prefer!
This is a very friendly recipe to make changes!
I have gone back to using flax meal reconstituted with aquafaba but you can also use water if you do not have the bean water
The recipe listed below reflects this updated change
The types of fruits you use can be changed to suit you, but this year I used a combination of dried apricots, raisins, pineapple, dates, figs, cranberry and even a fresh pear!
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL YOUTUBE VIDEO TUTORIAL FOR HOW TO MAKE THIS CAKE!
For more awesome Christmastime recipes click the links below!
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- Fruitcake Cookies
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- Ornament Cakes
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- Holiday Cakes Compilation
8 Vegan Holiday Cakes ~ from beginner to advanced
- Dark Raisins ¼ cup
- Dried Cranberries ¼
- Dried Pineapple ¼ cup
- Dates ¼ cup
- Dried Figs ¼ cup
- Fresh Pear ½ cup
- Candied Orange *optional or just replace with another fruit ¼ cup
- Fresh grated ginger approximately 2 teaspoons
- Orange zest 1 teaspoon
- Lemon zest 1 teaspoon
- Rum spiced or gold your choice ½ cup + more for basting *Optional
- Granulated Sugar ½ cup (100g)
- Flax meal 2 Tablespoons (16g)
- Aquafaba 6 Tablespoons (90ml) Or hot water
- Baking Soda ½ teaspoon
- Baking Powder 1 teaspoon
- Salt pinch
- Ground Cinnamon 1 teaspoon
- Ground Ginger ½ teaspoon
- Cardamon ¼ teaspoon
- Allspice ⅛ teaspoon
- Nutmeg ⅛ teaspoon
- Anise pods 4
- Whole Cloves about 10-12
- All Purpose Flour ¾ cup + 2 Tablespoons (109g)
- Applesauce ½ cup (100g) OR OIL if not using applesauce
- Vegan Butter 5 Tablespoons (70g)
- Nuts of your choice I used almonds ½ cup
- Place the star anise pods and the whole cloves in a small pouch of cheesecloth so you can easily pull them out of the mixture later.
- Cut all the dried fruits and the pear to the same size as the raisins and cranberries and in a medium bowl, pour the rum over top.
- Let it macerate overnight at room temperature (Or to speed the process microwave for 1 minute to reconstitute) and then let it sit for 3 hours
- Chop the nuts to same size, but reserve aside for last.
- In a large sauce pot combine the macerated fruits, the zest, grated ginger, spices, sugar, applesauce and vegan butter and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes on low heat.
- Let it cool for about 15 minutes, remove the sack of whole spices (anise pods and cloves) and discard then add the nuts and the sifted flour, egg replacer, baking soda and powder .
- Pour the batter into a greased 9" x 5" loaf pan or if you are using the mini loaf pan like me, you will only get 6, be sure to fill the batter almost to the top (about ¾ full) for whatever size [an you are using.
- Bake in a preheated 375°F oven for 10 minutes, then reduce heat to 350°F for another 10 minutes for the MINI LOAFS for a total bake time of 20-25 minutes.
- The large standard loaf will take 35-40 minutes total bake time.
- Cool in the pan until you can touch the pan without burning yourself and then flip out onto a wire rack to cool the rest of the way.
- While still warm, brush with additional rum *Optional see notes above the recipe section
- Cool completely then wrap well and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks
- Sprinkle loaves with confectioners sugar or ice with optional buttercream and additional fruit compote as shown in the picture
Since this is more of a fruitcake recipe that is meant to be served within days and not stored for years!
This recipe for fruitcake will stay fresh at room temperature fro up to 5 days, for longer storage refrigerate for up to 1 week.
Freeze for up to 2 months
Thank you so much for sharing!
I will try your recipe for this Christmas.
Happy holidays?✨?
If I wanted to soak the dried fruit in the 1/2cup of rum in a sealed container, say for about a week prior to baking. Do you think that would effect the end product too much?
Would be GREAT!!
Can i get a substitute for egg replacer?
You can use whatever egg replacer you prefer in place of 2 eggs
Thank you so much. I was diagnosed with alpha gal 2 years ago. The past two years I missed having fruit cake. I am thankful to the internet and people like you for recipes! It is always easier for me to just go the vegan route and of course making everything homemade as possible.
Awe! I think you will LOVE This!!
Hi,
Recipe looks very authentic!!
Can i substitute pear juice for rum? Got 6 big bottles for free from a farm where i went apple picking and need to use them before they expire ?..thanks
yes you sure can! I may cut some of the sugar then by like ¼ cup
This is a truly delicious cake, about to make my second batch, I am going to use candied clementine in my fruit mix. As a liquid will again use my brandy from my aged rumtopf, will cut down on the sugar content.
Hi,
Can you pls. give measurements of flour and butter in grms. And can I skip applesauce ?
yes the applesauce can be replaced with apple juice (or any fruit juice) or even a banana. (same measure- 1/2 cup)
refresh the page for the grams weight in flour and butter (109g flour and 70g butter)
Hi, can aquafaba be used pls? If yes, what quantities? Thanks!
yes sure! You can add 2 Tbs Aquafaba instead of the egg replacer that I have listed
Hi Gretchen,
Can I replace rum with any juice.
Thanks
Ambika
yes
Hi Gretchen,
This is a very yummy cake. My sister in law even likes it and she won’t eat any dried fruit, she calls it dead fruit. I didn’t put the icing or extra fruit on top just served it sliced and it was a hit. The only thing I didn’t understand was where the pear came in. In your recipe you mention it but not where it is added. Do I chop it and add it to the fruit or cook it with the dried fruit?
Renee
YAY! I love this recipe so I am so happy to hear it was a hit (with a dried fruit hater! LOL) Sorry for the confusion, yes I included it in the directions where I said : “Cut all the dried fruits to the same size as the raisins and cranberries and in a medium bowl, pour the rum over top. Let it macerate overnight at room temperature” But did not specify INCLUDING THE PEAR! Sorry about that I will update the post now! thankyoU!
Can you omit the fresh pear? If so what would you recommend changing any of the liquid proportions?
For some reason I did not get this notification, I’m not sure if this is an old ?? At any rate, yes you can omit the pear, the pear will not alter the liquids though, so it will be fine. You can replace with more of those other fruits if you like
Can i use powder cloves cause whole cloves is not available in our country? If yes, possible what is the measurement?
So will it be remained in the mixture right? Wont be included with the cheesecloth with the star anise?
Yes you can definitely add the ground cloves & you are correct it will then become part of the recipe which is not a bad thing at all! I would add ¼ teaspoon ground clove
Will you be doing the vegan baking mastery class again?
when do you add the pods and cloves? during maceration process? recipe doesn’t tell when to add, but tells when to take out. appreciate. making this this week.
HI, Here in this step: In a large saucepot combine the macerated fruits, the zest, grated ginger, spices, sugar, applesauce and vegan butter and bring to a boil.
The “spices” are am referring to here includes the pods and cloves
Looks good! Do you have a buttercream recipe? Thanks!
Thanks Yes CLICK HERE
Hi Gretchen, If I were to bake these in a standard muffin pan, would the cook time be about the same as for the mini-loaf pans? Or maybe a little less since I’d have 12 smaller pieces at the end? The recipe sounds fantastic. Can’t wait to try it this weekend. Happy Holidays!
thanks! You will love these! And great idea for muffins! I’d say check them about 10minutes earlier than my suggested time here
Hi, can aquafaba be used instead of the egg replacer pls? If yes, would you kindly tell me how much? Thanks so much.
While I have not tried that specifically I think it will work. Fruitcake is meant to be a super moist cake, so I think it will be fine here. Add 2 Tbs AF
Has anyone tried to make this without the vegan butter and if so, what did you use as a substitute, if anything?
I am looking to ship a fruit cake to my daughters and this is the one I want to make. However, even without the frosting the recipe specifies to keep refrigerated. Please let me know if this is a requirement (I don’t plan on frosting it before shipping) or if the cake is fine without refrigeration. It could take a week to get to the destination. Thank you.
Hi! No the refrigeration in not necessary, just wrap well and as long as it is not going to super HOT climates, you will be fine!