Kerala Plum Cake

Happy new year to everyone .One of my new year resolutions is to update the blog more often than 2008 :)Here is the Plum cake from Christmas menu .Thanks again to Renmom , for this wonderful recipe which definetly goes head to head with the ones from Kerala bakeries.Cake is decorated using Royal Icing flowers.

INGREDIENTS
3 1/2 cups Dried fruits and nuts
(1 cup raisins , 1 cup dates
1/2 cup cherrys ,1/2 cup cashew nuts
1/2 cup tuttifrutti)
1/2 cup brandy or rum
3 cups orange juice
3 cups all purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
2 cups sugar
6 eggs ( separate)
1.5 cups butter
1 cup caramel syrup
1 tsp sha jeera
1/2 tsp clove powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg power
2 tsp vanilla essence



DIRECTIONS

1. You can use raisins , dates , nuts , Tutti frutti , preserved orange peel , lemon peel etc.


2. Soak fruits and nuts in rum and orange juice for 2-3 days.


3. For making one cup caramel syrup, heat a saucepan with 1 cup of sugar.Keep stirring until sugar is browned and then add one cup water.Stir and keep it aside.


4. Preheat oven to 350 degree F.


5. Grease an 11 by 15 pan which is at least 2 inch deep.


6. Cream butter and sugar.Then add egg yolks one at a time and mix well.Then add vanilla essence,spice powders and caramel.


7. Slowly add flour and mix until the flour is incorporated.


8. Beat egg whites to soft peaks in a separate bowl and gently fold that into the batter.


9. Finally add drained fruits and nuts


10. Bake for about 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Lessons Learned:
[1]Measure the fruits and nuts before soaking .Too much fruit can make a sticky or crumbly cake
[2]For best results chop the fruits using a knife .Using food processors can add more liquid to the recipe.
[3]For an authentic look ,add some brown food coloring.
[4]This cake stores well.So can be made days before .Can be stored at room temperature too.
[5]Recipe calls for 2 cups of sugar which results in a sweet cake .If you prefer , cut sugar to 1.5 cups .
[6]You can add 1/2tsp ginger power to the cake for some extra spice.