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–+ servings
Side view of unsliced Christmas Cake on a red and white platter.
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Lighter Christmas Cake with Apple and Fruit Recipe

This Christmas Cake is a delicious and moist cake packed with dried fruit, citrus zest, and applesauce. And with every bite, you will taste the holidays.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time1 hour 15 minutes
Total Time1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: 26 servings
Calories: 392kcal
Author: Stephanie Wilson

Ingredients

  • 1 cup butter softened
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cup pitted dates chopped
  • 3 cups applesauce
  • 1 cup walnuts chopped
  • 1 cup pecans chopped
  • 2 cups raisins
  • 2 cups mixed candied fruit chopped
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • ½ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
  • 3 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon orange zest

Glaze

  • ¼ cup apricot preserves
  • ¼ cup water
  • whole pecans for garnishing

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and grease three 8 x 4 x 3-inch loaf pans.
  • Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, until incorporated; stir in vanilla and applesauce.
  • Add the walnuts, pecans, raisins, candied fruit, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, baking powder, baking soda, flour, and orange zest. Mix until just incorporated and no visible signs of flour remain. Transfer batter to prepared loaf pans.
  • Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Transfer to a rack to cool for 15 to 20 minutes in the pan. Then invert the cake onto a metal rack to cool completely.

For the Glaze

  • Just before serving, combine the apricot preserves and water in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer, stirring until the glaze has thinned and is shiny. Brush the tops of the cakes with the glaze and garnish with whole pecans.

Notes

  1. Storing the Christmas Cake: Once it is completely cool, wrap it in plastic wrap and store it in the refrigerator.
  2. Serving the Cake: A serrated knife works best for cake slicing. Serve on its own or spread with salted butter.

Nutrition

Calories: 392kcal | Carbohydrates: 67g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 33mg | Sodium: 214mg | Potassium: 255mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 35g | Vitamin A: 271IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 76mg | Iron: 2mg