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Spiced Fruitcake for #BundtBakers

Spiced Fruitcake is a delightful combination of spice cake and traditional fruitcake. It has raisins, candied cherries, walnuts and warm spices.

Have you been naughty or nice? From what I understand, some bearded guy in a red suit is keeping track. He gets his assistants to double check when they are not working in the factory or feeding the animals. Me? I strive to be nice and admit to a bit of naughtiness every now and then. Where that puts me on a list, I don’t know. Anyway, when it comes to bundts, Spiced Fruitcake is quite nice with a little naughty in the mix.

I know, I know – Fruitcake. You may be thinking “quite nice” and fruitcake do not go together. If so, get that terrible brick they sell in stores out of your mind. This bundt is completely different. Completely. It’s a walnut spice cake with brandy soaked cherries and raisins. I’m calling it fruitcake because the cherries are candied ones. Otherwise it would be a fruity spice cake.

Spiced Fruitcake Bundt Cake | Magnolia Days

What is the naughty part of Spiced Fruitcake? It’s the brandy simply because a cake with libation in it is unheard of with some folks. You know that isn’t the case with me. I’ll bake and cook with alcoholic beverages any day of the week and then some. Aside from wine, most of the liquor I have is used more often for cooking than drinking.

Spiced Fruitcake Bundt Cake | Magnolia Days

Naughty or Nice is this month’s Bundt Bakers theme. It’s such a fun one too. I’m so glad our host Olivia of Liv for Cake decided on it. Scroll down to see the list of bundts baked for the theme. As always, each one is a click away. Also look at Peppermint Cappuccino Cake and Eggnog Pound Cake for more holiday bundts I’ve baked.

Spiced Fruitcake Bundt Cake | Magnolia Days
5 from 2 votes
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Spiced Fruitcake

Spiced Fruitcake is a delightful combination of spice cake and traditional fruitcake. It has raisins, candied cherries, walnuts and warm spices.
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings 12 to 15 servings
Author Renee Dobbs

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup golden raisins
  • 1/2 cup chopped candied cherries
  • 2 tablespoons brandy
  • 1/2 cup shortening
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg at room temperature
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
  • 1 cup chopped walnuts
  • Confectioners sugar for topping

Instructions

  1. Combine raisins, cherries, and brandy in a small bowl. Allow to set for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
  2. Heat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease and flour an 8 or 10 cup Bundt pan.
  3. Beat shortening and sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Add egg and beat to combine.
  4. Whisk together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves.
  5. Add flour mixture alternately with applesauce to creamed mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture.
  6. Stir in walnuts, raisins, cherries, and brandy.
  7. Pour batter into prepared pan and spread evenly in pan.
  8. Bake for 45 minutes or until a toothpick or cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean.
  9. Cool cake in the pan for 10 minutes. Remove cake from pan and cool completely on a wire rack.
  10. Lightly dust top of cake with confectioners sugar.
  11. Wrap cake tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil when not serving. Cake is best a day or two after it is baked.

Recipe Notes

Spiced Fruitcake is a delightful combination of spice cake and traditional fruitcake. It has raisins, candied cherries, walnuts and warm spices.

Recipe adapted from the Nordic Ware Bundt Cookbook published in 2004 (no longer in print).

Are you looking for a festive dessert to bake? Take a look at these holiday bundt cake recipes by talented bakers around the world:

Bundt Bakers LogoWhat is Bundt Bakers? It’s a group of Bundt loving bakers who get together once a month to bake bundts with a common ingredient or theme. Follow our Bundt Bakers Pinterest board for incredible bundt cake recipes and inspiration. Stacy of Food Lust People Love heads up our group and has a #BundtBakers page where you can find information and links to the recipes for each month.

How is the monthly theme determined? We take turns hosting each month and choosing the theme/ingredient. Links for all of our past events and more information about BundtBakers can be found on our homepage.

Recipe Rating




Catherine

Saturday 26th of December 2015

This is a wonderful fruitcake for the holiday festivities!! I hope your Christmas season is full of peace and good cheer. xo Catherine

Laura Dembowski

Tuesday 22nd of December 2015

I am a fan of fruitcake and this one sounds lovely! I like the bundt shape. Merry Christmas, Renee!

Christiane ~ Taking On Magazines

Monday 21st of December 2015

What a beautiful cake! I love that you used just candied cherries and golden raisins because it looks so classy and formal, even for a bundt. Merry Christmas!

Felice

Sunday 20th of December 2015

This cake looks so nice and innocent until you take a bite - then the naughty kicks in. You can never go wrong with soaking fruit in alcohol, and then using them in a cake, although to be completely honest I've drunk plenty of alcohol served in fruit too :). Mele Kalikimaka.

Lauren @ Sew You Think You Can Cook

Saturday 19th of December 2015

It must be the theme of the month but when I read your post title I read "Spiked" instead of "Spiced". :) I've never had fruit cake but I'd gladly start with your version!