Rustic Fruit and Nut Cake: A Delightful Blend of Natural Sweetness and Texture

This rustic fruit and nut cake is a comforting, home-baked treat that combines the natural sweetness of mixed fruits with the rich texture of optional nuts and a hint of orange zest. It’s moist and hearty, perfect for those who appreciate a cake that’s not overly sweet but is still packed with flavor. The cake’s easy preparation and wholesome ingredients make it a satisfying dessert or teatime snack.

Why You’ll Love This

The mix of fruits and optional walnuts in this cake offers a lovely chewiness and crunch, while the orange zest provides a bright, citrusy note that cuts through the richness of the batter. It’s a versatile cake that can be customized based on your fruit and nut preferences, making it a reliable recipe for any season.

Perfect Occasion

This cake is perfect for family gatherings, especially during the holidays when its warming flavors can be truly appreciated. It’s also great for potlucks, afternoon tea, or as a special treat to enjoy with coffee in the morning.

Decoration Tips

For a simple yet elegant finish, dust the top of the cake with powdered sugar or drizzle with a basic glaze made from confectioners’ sugar and milk. To emphasize the orange flavor, add some candied orange slices as a topping. For a festive touch, you can also sprinkle some chopped nuts over the glaze.

• Ingredients:
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 cup of sugar
  • 1 cup of oil
  • 1 cup of milk
  • 2 cups of flour (plus a little extra for coating the fruit)
  • 10g of baking powder
  • 10g of vanilla powder or equivalent vanilla extract
  • 200g of mixed dried fruits
  • Walnuts (optional, chopped)
  • Orange zest (optional)
• Instructions:
  1. Preheat your oven to 170°C (338°F). Grease a cake tin with butter.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk the eggs and sugar together until fluffy.
  3. Gradually mix in the oil and milk until well combined.
  4. Sift in the flour, baking powder, and vanilla, and mix until just combined.
  5. In a separate bowl, toss the mixed fruits and optional walnuts with a spoonful of flour to coat them; this helps prevent them from sinking in the batter.
  6. Fold the fruit mixture and optional orange zest into the main batter gently until evenly distributed.
  7. Pour the batter into the prepared cake tin.
  8. Bake in the preheated oven for 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
  9. Let the cake cool in the tin for a while before turning it out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

Hope you try and enjoy this heartwarming fruit and nut cake, perfect for bringing a touch of sweetness to any day!