Festive Bliss: A Joyful Holiday Cake Recipe to Sweeten Your Season

Winters bring a magical warmth that sparkles through festive baking, and this joyful holiday cake recipe captures the season’s sweetest essence.

Layers of rich, spiced goodness dance between delicate crumbs that melt on your tongue.

Sprinkled with nostalgia and comfort, this dessert carries memories of cozy gatherings and shared laughter.

Every slice tells a story of celebration and love, blending traditional flavors with a modern twist.

Fragrant spices whisper tales of cherished moments around the table.

Elegant yet simple, this cake promises to be the star of your holiday spread.

Dive into this delightful recipe and let the magic of the season unfold on your plate.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 3 hours 30 minutes

Total Time: 4 hours

Calories: 391 kcal

Servings: 13

Ingredients for the Joyful Holiday Cake Celebration

• Dried Fruits: Plump, flavor-packed treasures that bring intense sweetness and festive texture to the cake.
• Brandy, Cointreau, Kirsch: Luxurious spirits that infuse rich, complex flavors and help preserve the cake's moisture.

• Butter: Creamy foundation that ensures a tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
• Dark Brown Soft Sugar: Adds deep caramel notes and contributes to the cake's rich, moist character.
• Eggs: Binding agent that provides structure and luxurious richness.
• Vanilla Extract: Aromatic enhancer that brings warmth and depth to the cake's flavor profile.

• Plain Flour, Ground Almonds: Creates a delicate, tender crumb with nutty undertones.
• Baking Powder: Crucial leavening agent that helps the cake rise beautifully.
• Mixed Spice, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Ground Cloves: Warming spice blend that captures the essence of holiday cheer.
• Glace Cherries: Adds bursts of sweet, jewel-like color and fruity brightness.

Gear That Makes Holiday Cake Prep Fun

• Electric Mixer: Essential for creaming butter and sugar to fluffy perfection and beating eggs smoothly.
• Large Mixing Bowl: Perfect for combining dried fruits with brandy and mixing cake batter.
• 8-inch Cake Tin: Deep and sturdy, measuring at least 3 inches to hold the rich batter.
• Baking Paper: Crucial for lining the cake tin, ensuring easy removal and preventing sticking.
• Spatula: Helps level the batter evenly and scrape mixture from the sides of the bowl.
• Skewer: Used to check cake doneness and create holes for additional brandy drizzling.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons: Necessary for precise ingredient measurements.

How to Layer and Bake a Joyful Holiday Cake

• Fruit Fusion

Blend assorted dried fruits with brandy and luxurious liqueurs. Allow the mixture to marinate and absorb rich flavors overnight, creating a deeply delicious foundation for your holiday cake.

• Butter Bliss

Whip softened butter and dark brown sugar until light and airy. Gently incorporate eggs and vanilla, creating a silky smooth base that promises incredible texture and taste.

• Spice Symphony

Carefully fold dry ingredients – flour, ground almonds, and a harmonious blend of warming spices – into the creamy mixture. Each sprinkle adds depth and complexity to the cake’s character.

• Fruit Fusion Integration

Gently fold the soaked fruits and glace cherries into the batter, ensuring an even distribution of delectable morsels throughout the cake.

• Baking Magic

Transfer the batter into a prepared cake tin and bake slowly at a low temperature. This gentle approach ensures a moist, perfectly developed cake with rich, developed flavors.

• Final Flourish

After baking, puncture the warm cake with a skewer and drizzle additional brandy. Allow the cake to cool completely, letting the flavors meld and intensify.

Flavor Tips and Joyful Decorating Options

• Boozy Fruit Soaking Secrets: Soak fruits in brandy or other liqueurs overnight to intensify their flavor and create a richer, more complex taste profile. The longer they soak, the more decadent the cake becomes.
• Baking Time Precision: Use a reliable oven thermometer to ensure accurate temperature. Low and slow baking prevents the cake from burning while allowing the fruits to distribute evenly and create a moist, tender crumb.
• Fruit Substitution Magic: Swap dried fruits based on personal preference or availability. Try a mix of golden raisins, currants, cranberries, or chopped dried apricots to create your unique flavor combination.
• Make-Ahead Brilliance: This fruit cake improves with age. Wrap the cooled cake in parchment and foil, then store in an airtight container. Periodically brush with extra brandy over several weeks to develop deeper, richer flavors and maintain moisture.
• Decorative Finishing Touches: Once completely cooled, dust with powdered sugar or create a simple glaze with brandy and confectioners' sugar. Add a sprinkle of toasted nuts or candied fruit on top for an elegant, festive presentation.

Plating the Holiday Cake to Impress a Crowd

• Festive Decoration Delight: Dust the cake with powdered sugar for a snowy, elegant look that sparkles like winter magic. Sprinkle some edible silver or gold glitter for extra holiday glamour.
• Boozy Fruit Garnish: Top the cake with candied orange peel, dried cranberries, and a few extra soaked raisins. Drizzle a light glaze of additional brandy for an extra kick of festive flavor.
• Elegant Serving Style: Slice the cake into thin, delicate wedges and serve on beautiful vintage plates. Pair with a small glass of brandy or a rich, creamy cappuccino to complement the cake's deep, complex flavors.
• Gifting Presentation: Wrap individual slices in clear cellophane with a festive ribbon, creating perfect homemade holiday gifts. Include a small tag with the cake's unique brandy-soaked fruit recipe for a personal touch.

Planning and Storing This Cake for Holidays

• Smart Storage Solutions: Wrap the cake tightly in multiple layers of plastic wrap to lock in moisture and prevent drying out.
• Fridge-Friendly Approach: Keep the holiday cake in an airtight container inside the refrigerator for up to two weeks, maintaining its rich flavor and soft texture.
• Freezing Magic: Slice the cake before freezing individual portions in sealed freezer bags, which allows easy thawing and enjoyment for up to three months without compromising taste.
• Moisture-Boosting Technique: Before serving chilled cake, let it sit at room temperature for 30-45 minutes to restore its original softness and enhance the complex fruit and spice flavors.

Festive Holiday Cake Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.9 from 23 reviews

• Total Time: 4 hours
• Yield: 13 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Grandma’s classic holiday cake blends cherished family memories with festive spices and rich textures. Warm cinnamon and nutmeg create a comforting dessert you’ll treasure during seasonal celebrations.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 850 g (30 oz) mixed dried fruit (sultanas, raisins, cranberries, apricots, mixed peel)
• 100 g (3.5 oz) glace cherries, chopped
• 235 g (8.3 oz) butter or baking spread, softened and unsalted
• 235 g (8.3 oz) dark brown soft sugar
• 235 g (8.3 oz) plain flour
• 100 g (3.5 oz) ground almonds
• 4 large eggs
• 100 ml (3.4 fl oz) brandy
• 2 tbsps brandy (for after baking)
• 1 tbsp cointreau (optional; can be substituted with brandy)
• 1 tbsp kirsch (optional; can be substituted with brandy)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 ½ tsps mixed spice
• ½ tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• ¼ tsp ground cloves
• ¼ tsp nutmeg

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Macerate Fruits: Combine dried fruits with brandy, Cointreau, and Kirsch in a mixing bowl, ensuring complete liquor coverage. Let the mixture marinate overnight to absorb the rich, aromatic liquid essence.
2. Prepare Pan and Oven: Preheat the oven to 120C. Meticulously line an 8-inch deep cake tin with double parchment paper and butter, creating a protective barrier for the delicate cake.
3. Create Creamy Base: Whisk softened butter and dark brown sugar until light and fluffy. Gradually incorporate eggs and vanilla extract, blending each addition smoothly into the mixture.
4. Combine Dry Ingredients: Gently fold flour, ground almonds, baking powder, mixed spice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ground cloves into the creamy base, maintaining a delicate texture.
5. Finalize Batter: Integrate the alcohol-soaked fruit mixture and chopped glace cherries, stirring carefully to distribute ingredients evenly. Transfer to the prepared tin, smoothing the surface with precision.
6. Bake and Enhance: Bake for approximately 3 ½ hours until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. Immediately after removing from the oven, pierce the cake’s surface and drizzle additional brandy, allowing the liquid to permeate the warm cake.
7. Cool and Mature: Let the cake cool completely within the tin, allowing flavors to develop and intensify, creating a rich, moist holiday delicacy.

Notes

• Marinate Fruits Strategically: Allow dried fruits to soak overnight in alcohol for maximum flavor absorption and richness, creating a more intense and complex taste profile.
• Prepare Baking Tin Carefully: Double-line the cake tin with parchment paper to prevent burning and ensure easy cake removal, protecting the delicate cake edges from excessive heat.
• Monitor Baking Time Precisely: Check cake doneness using the skewer test, inserting it into the center and ensuring it comes out clean, which indicates perfect internal moisture and baking completion.
• Enhance Moisture Post-Baking: Puncture warm cake surface and drizzle additional brandy to create a deeper, more intense flavor and maintain exceptional moisture throughout the cake’s texture.

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

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 13
• Calories: 391
• Sugar: 45 g
• Sodium: 48 mg
• Fat: 16 g
• Saturated Fat: 6 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 54 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 5 g
• Cholesterol: 62 mg