The Most Joyful Holiday Cake Recipe to Dazzle Your Guests

Imagine a holiday cake that sparks pure delight with every single bite.

Festive desserts often carry deep emotional connections beyond simple ingredients.

Warm spices and rich textures can instantly transport you to cherished memories.

Sweet layers of comfort blend perfectly with seasonal celebrations.

Soft crumbs infused with cheerful flavors promise an incredible sensory experience.

Decadent and inviting, this cake becomes the centerpiece of extraordinary gatherings.

Whip up this magical creation and watch smiles spread across the room.

Joyful Holiday Cake: Your Questions Solved

• How long does the fruit need to soak before baking?

The fruit should soak overnight or up to 24 hours in brandy and optional liqueurs to develop rich, deep flavors.

• Why is the oven temperature so low for this cake?

The low temperature of 120C ensures slow, even baking for this dense fruit cake, preventing burning and helping ingredients blend perfectly without drying out.

• Can I skip the alcohol in the recipe?

You can replace the brandy with orange juice or apple juice, though alcohol helps intensify the cake’s flavor and helps preserve the cake longer.

• How do I know when the cake is fully baked?

Insert a skewer into the center of the cake – if it comes out clean without wet batter, the cake is done. The total baking time is around 3½ hours at a low temperature.

Joyful Holiday Cake Highlights

• This festive cake packs a delightful punch of holiday spirit with its rich blend of brandy-soaked fruits and warm spices.
• Packed with dried fruits, multiple liqueurs, and aromatic spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, each bite delivers an incredible depth of flavor that dances on your taste buds.
• The extended 3.5-hour baking time at a low temperature ensures a moist, dense cake that develops complex flavors and a tender, rich texture without burning or drying out.
• Despite its gourmet appearance, this cake requires basic mixing techniques and minimal special skills, making it an achievable showstopper for home bakers of all levels.

What Goes Into a Joyful Holiday Cake

• Dried Fruits: Rich base for holiday cake flavor, mix of raisins, currants, and sultanas works best.
• Brandy, Cointreau, Kirsch: Enhances fruit flavor and adds depth, choose high-quality spirits for best results.

• Butter: Soft and creamy base for tender cake texture, room temperature is crucial.
• Dark Brown Soft Sugar: Provides deep caramel-like sweetness and moisture.
• Eggs: Bind ingredients and create structure, use fresh large eggs.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds warm, complex flavor, pure extract recommended.

• Plain Flour, Ground Almonds: Create cake's tender crumb, sift flour for smooth texture.
• Baking Powder: Ensures light, even rise.
• Mixed Spice, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Ground Cloves: Traditional holiday spice blend, adds warm aromatic notes.
• Glace Cherries: Provides sweet, colorful bursts in the cake.

Directions for Baking Joyful Holiday Cake

Step 1: Soak Dried Fruits

Gather your favorite dried fruits and place them in a spacious mixing bowl. Pour in brandy and optional liqueurs like Cointreau or Kirsch. Stir the fruits until they’re completely coated with the liquid. Cover the bowl and let the fruits absorb the delicious flavors overnight or up to 24 hours.

Step 2: Prepare Baking Setup

Warm up your oven to 120 Celsius (275 Fahrenheit). Grab an 8-inch cake pan that’s at least 3 inches deep. Generously grease the pan and line it twice with baking parchment paper, ensuring complete coverage.

Step 3: Create Creamy Base

In a large mixing bowl, blend softened butter and dark brown sugar until the mixture becomes light and fluffy. This should take about 3 minutes using an electric mixer. Slowly add eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition. Gently stir in vanilla extract.

Step 4: Combine Dry Ingredients

• Plain flour
• Ground almonds
• Baking powder
• Mixed spice
• Cinnamon
• Nutmeg
• Ground cloves

Mix until ingredients are just combined, being careful not to overmix.

Step 5: Add Fruit and Bake

Fold in the soaked dried fruits and chopped glace cherries, ensuring even distribution throughout the batter. Transfer the mixture to the prepared cake pan, smoothing the top with a spatula. Slide the pan into the preheated oven and bake for approximately 3.5 hours.

Step 6: Test and Cool Cake

Check the cake’s doneness by inserting a skewer into the center. If it comes out clean, the cake is ready. Remove from the oven and create small holes using the skewer. Drizzle additional brandy over the warm cake. Allow the cake to cool completely inside the pan.

Step 7: Serve and Enjoy

Once cooled, carefully remove the cake from the pan. Slice and serve this luxurious holiday treat to your delighted guests.

Tips for a Moist Holiday Cake

• Enhance Fruit Soaking: Boost flavor intensity by soaking dried fruits in alcohol for a minimum of 12 hours, allowing them to plump and absorb maximum liquid.
• Perfect Mixing Technique: Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, ensuring no lumps remain for a smooth, velvety cake texture.
• Precise Baking Temperature: Maintain low, consistent oven temperature to prevent burning and ensure even, gentle baking throughout the cake.
• Moisture-Locking Method: Poke holes after baking and drizzle extra brandy to create a rich, moist cake that stays delectable for days.
• Batter Folding Trick: Incorporate dry ingredients gently with a light hand to preserve air bubbles, resulting in a tender, delicate crumb.

How to Keep Your Cake Fresh

• Refrigerate: Store the cooled cake wrapped tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil for up to 7 days in the refrigerator to maintain moisture and freshness.
• Freeze: Slice the cake into portions, wrap each individually in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 3 months for longer preservation.
• Reheat: Thaw frozen cake slices at room temperature for 1-2 hours. Warm individual pieces in the microwave for 15-20 seconds or in a preheated oven at 150C for 5-10 minutes to restore softness and enhance flavors.

Pairing Ideas for Holiday Cake

• Sip Festive Brandy Cocktails: Complement the cake's rich brandy-soaked fruits with a classic brandy old fashioned or a smooth cognac-based cocktail, enhancing the warm spices and boozy undertones.
• Pair with Creamy Dessert Wines: Select a sweet dessert wine like Pedro Ximénez sherry or a late harvest Riesling to match the cake's intense fruity and sugary profile, creating a luxurious tasting experience.
• Serve with Spiced Coffee: Brew a robust espresso or cappuccino with a sprinkle of cinnamon and nutmeg to echo the cake's warming spices, providing a delightful contrast to the dense, sweet cake texture.
• Match with Vanilla Ice Cream: Add a scoop of smooth vanilla bean ice cream alongside the cake, offering a cool, creamy counterpoint to the rich, dense holiday dessert and balancing its intense flavors.

Joyful Cake Variations You’ll Love

• Festive Nutty Delight: Replace some dried fruits with toasted pecans, walnuts, and hazelnuts for a crunchy texture and rich, deep flavor profile.
• Citrus Zinger Cake: Add orange and lemon zest to the batter, swap brandy with Grand Marnier, and incorporate candied citrus peel for a bright, tangy twist.
• Chocolate Lover's Version: Mix in dark chocolate chips, reduce mixed spices, and drizzle melted dark chocolate over the cooled cake for an indulgent chocolate experience.
• Tropical Fruit Fusion: Substitute traditional dried fruits with dried pineapple, mango, and coconut flakes, using rum instead of brandy for a Caribbean-inspired holiday treat.

Joyful Holiday Cake Recipe

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4.6 from 9 reviews

• Total Time: 4 hours
• Yield: 12 1x

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Description

Warm spices dance through this festive joyful holiday cake, creating a delightful centerpiece for seasonal celebrations. Sweet memories bloom with each slice, inviting family and friends to savor the rich, comforting flavors of winter’s most cherished dessert.

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Ingredients

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Cake Fruits and Alcohol:

• 850 g (30 ounces) mixed dried fruit (such as sultanas, raisins, cranberries, apricots, and mixed peel)
• 100 ml (3.4 fluid ounces) brandy
• 2 tablespoons brandy (for after baking)
• 1 tablespoon cointreau (optional; can be substituted with brandy)
• 1 tablespoon kirsch (optional; can be substituted with brandy)
• 100 g (3.5 ounces) glace cherries, chopped

Cake Base Ingredients:

• 235 g (8.3 ounces) butter or baking spread, softened and unsalted
• 235 g (8.3 ounces) dark brown soft sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 235 g (8.3 ounces) plain flour
• 100 g (3.5 ounces) ground almonds

Spices and Raising Agent:

• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• 1 ½ teaspoons mixed spice
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
• ¼ teaspoon nutmeg

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Instructions

1. Create a luxurious fruit mixture by combining dried fruits with brandy, Cointreau, and Kirsch in a spacious mixing bowl, ensuring thorough coverage. Allow the mixture to marinate overnight, enabling the fruits to absorb the rich liquid essence.
2. Warm the kitchen oven to a gentle 120C and meticulously prepare an 8-inch deep cake tin by coating with butter and lining twice with parchment paper for perfect protection.
3. Transform softened butter and dark brown sugar into a light, airy cream through vigorous whisking, creating a smooth foundation. Gradually introduce eggs and vanilla extract, ensuring each addition blends seamlessly into the mixture.
4. Delicately fold flour, ground almonds, baking powder, and aromatic spices (mixed spice, cinnamon, nutmeg, ground cloves) into the creamy base, maintaining a gentle touch to preserve the batter’s delicate structure.
5. Incorporate the alcohol-infused fruit mixture and chopped glace cherries, stirring carefully to distribute ingredients evenly throughout the batter. Transfer the mixture into the prepared tin, smoothing the surface with precision.
6. Bake the cake in the preheated oven for approximately 3 ½ hours, monitoring until a slender skewer emerges cleanly from the center, indicating perfect doneness.
7. After removing from the oven, puncture the cake’s surface with a skewer and drizzle additional brandy, allowing the liquid to permeate the warm cake. Allow the cake to cool completely within the tin, developing deeper flavors and moisture.

Notes

• Soaking dried fruits overnight intensifies their flavor and creates a richer, more complex taste profile for the holiday cake.
• Use room temperature ingredients like butter and eggs to ensure smooth blending and a consistently soft cake texture.
• Low and slow baking at 120C prevents burning and allows the cake to develop deep, complex flavors without drying out.
• Poking holes and adding extra brandy after baking creates moisture and enhances the cake’s rich, boozy character.
• Choose high-quality dried fruits and spirits to elevate the overall taste and luxurious feel of this festive dessert.
• Double-lining the cake tin prevents burning and helps create an even, perfectly shaped holiday cake.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 3 hours 30 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 320
• Sugar: 30 g
• Sodium: 50 mg
• Fat: 15 g
• Saturated Fat: 9 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 42 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 5 g
• Cholesterol: 60 mg