Spiced Fruitcake for #BundtBakers

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.

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.

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.

4.5 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:

• Amaretto Almond Bundt Cake by I Bake He Shoots
• Angel Food Bundt Cake with Cranberry Filling and Lemon Glaze by Taking On Magazines
• Anise Bundt Cake by I Love Bundt Cakes
• Bundtcake Especiado by La Mejor Manera de Hacer…
• Candy Cane Bundt Cake by Cali’s Cuisine
• Cherry Chocolate Bundt Cake by Basic N Delicious
• Chocolate Gingerbread Bundt Cake by A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Christmas Fruitcake by Tea and Scones
• Christmas Rose Bundt Cake by Living the Gourmet
• Cranberry Spice Bundt Cake by Sew You Think You Can Cook
• Eggless Chocolate Gingerbread Bundts with Cream Cheese Frosting by I Camp In My Kitchen
• Eggnog Pound Cake by Palatable Pastime
• Gingerbread Bundt Cake with Chocolate Ganache and Truffles by How to Philosophize with Cake
• Hot Buttered Rum Bundt by Food Lust People Love
• Maple Pecan Bundt Cake by Jane’s Adventures in Dinner
• Old Fashioned Marble Cake by Brooklyn Homemaker
• Peppermint Candy Cane Bundt Cake by The Freshman Cook
• Rum & Eggnog Bundt Cake by Liv for Cake
• Spiced Fruitcake by Magnolia Days
• Spiced Ginger Bundt Cake with Caramel Brandy Sauce by All That’s Left Are The Crumbs
• Spiced Rum Eggnog Bundt Cake by Making Miracles
• Sugar, Spice, and Everything Nice Cake by Eat, Drink, Be Mighty
• Super Naughty Chocolate Whiskey Bacon Jam Bundt Cake by Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite A Whiskered Accomplice

What 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.