31/10/2025
Spiced Rum Fruitcake
This Spiced Rum Fruitcake is a timeless holiday classic — rich, moist, and bursting with deep flavors of rum, spices, and candied fruits. The longer it sits, the better it gets, making it a perfect make-ahead festive treat.
🍒 Ingredients
For the soaked fruits:
300 g mixed raisins (golden and dark)
100 g candied cherries, halved
100 g mixed candied citrus peel
100 ml dark rum
50 ml fresh orange juice
For the cake:
250 g all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp ground nutmeg
¼ tsp ground cloves
¼ tsp ground ginger
200 g unsalted butter, softened
180 g brown sugar
4 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tbsp honey or molasses (optional, for a deeper flavor)
To soak after baking:
3–4 tbsp dark rum
🧁 Instructions
Soak the fruits (24 hours before baking):
In a large bowl, combine all the dried and candied fruits with the rum and orange juice. Cover and let soak overnight (up to 48 hours for stronger flavor).
Preheat the oven:
Set your oven to 160°C / 320°F. Grease and line a 20 cm (8-inch) round cake pan or loaf pan.
Mix dry ingredients:
Sift together flour, baking powder, and all the spices. Set aside.
Cream the butter and sugar:
Beat the butter and brown sugar together until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, then mix in the vanilla and honey or molasses.
Combine everything:
Gently fold in the dry ingredients, then stir in the soaked fruits along with their soaking liquid. Mix until evenly distributed.
Bake:
Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Smooth the top and bake for 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes, or until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean.
Soak with rum:
Once baked, poke holes on top of the warm cake with a skewer and drizzle over the extra rum. Let it cool completely in the pan.
🍷 Storage
Wrap the cooled cake tightly in parchment paper and then in plastic wrap. Store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place.
It improves with time — wait at least one week before serving for the best flavor.