Crumbly Fruitcake

whatatwit

No, it's not a new poster on OS, but it's what I'm ending up with at the moment.

I buy the bags of cheap mixed fruit....41p a Kg and soak in a bit of alcohol overnight just to plump up the fruit.
My recipe is a Schwartz one, Light Fruit Cake but I have now started doubling the recipe and beating the dry mix/eggs/fat then adding the cheapie mixed fruit.
The yummy mixture is divided in 4lb loaf tins and baked.

Whilst the cakes are much in demand, they do tend to crumble.

What can I add to make them a bit more solid, without being heavy

kidcurry

Maybe you could add a little more milk to the mix? And waiting a day to cut the cake will make it less crumbly. But it is hard to wait, I know!

nannaC

Instead of soaking in alcohol, boil the fruit in tea enough to just cover the fruit [I use the left over tea in the teapot] with half the sugar/fat. Simply bring to a rolling boil then turn the light right down Let it simmer until it turns slightly syrupy keep stirring or it will stick Let it cool slightly. Mix all other ingredits as normal and then add the warn gloopy mix. It will be rather runnier than normal cake mix this is ok. I use this method for Christmas cakes as well just add more alcohol. Ps you can also use up old jars of mincemeat in these cakes

janb5

You might like this recipe which doesn`t crumble and it works every time


Saucepan cake

This makes a very moist fruit cake. It only keeps 2 weeks at most. Can be frozen.

7" square or 8" round tin lined with greaseproof paper.

1 and a quarter lb mixed fruit ( 8oz sultanas, 8 oz raisins, 4 oz currants)
8 oz marg or butter
6 oz caster sugar
3 eggs beaten
12 oz SR flour
1 tsp almond essence( optional)

Put fruit in saucepan. Cover with cold water and boil for 10 mins. Drain fruit well, put back in saucepan with butter and melt over very low heat. Take off heat and add sugar and eggs. Beat well, then add flour and essence and beat well again. Pour into tin and bake for 1 hour at 300 F( 150 C) Gas2 then a further hour at 250 F( 130 C ) Gas 1)


This is very popular and cooks brilliantly- hope you enjoy it