Go Back

The Perfect Fruit Cake

This alcohol-free fruit cake is rich, moist, and packed with juicy dried fruits, warm spices, and a hint of citrus. It’s perfectly soft, flavorful, and ideal for any occasion—no booze needed! A delicious, family-friendly treat everyone can enjoy.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Soak Time 1 hour

Ingredients
  

Fruit mixture:

  • ¾ cup dates
  • ½ cup golden raisins
  • ½ cup dried apricots
  • ¾ cup maraschino cherries
  • 2 tbsp dried ginger
  • ½ cup orange juice
  • ½ walnuts chopped
  • ½ almonds chopped
  • ¼ cup flour

Cake:

  • ½ cup unsalted butter softened
  • cup brown sugar packed
  • cup granulated sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • ¾ cup flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • ¾ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp ground cloves
  • 1 tsp cinnamon powder
  • ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
  • 3 tbsp orange juice
  • 1 tbsp orange zest
  • ½ tbsp lemon juice

Instructions
 

  • In a large bowl, combine the dates, golden raisins, dried apricots, maraschino cherries and dried ginger. Add the orange juice and let soak for about an hour.
  • Preheat oven to 300F, line the bottom of an 8" circle baking pan with parchment paper and grease the sides with butter. Set aside.
  • Add the ¼ cup flour to the fruit mixture and mix until everything is thoroughly coated. Add the almonds and walnuts and stir to combine. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl, cream together the butter with both sugars until light and fluffy. Add in the eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition.
  • Whisk in the flour, baking soda, salt, cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg until smooth. Add the lemon juice, orange juice, and zest and mix until combined. Fold into the fruit-nut mixture. Scoop the batter into the baking pan and smooth out the top.
  • Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 1½ hours. Cool the cake in the pan for about 20 minutes, then remove onto a wire rack and cool to room temperature.
  • Brush with some warmed orange marmalade, cut yourself a slice, and enjoy!