Aunt Normas Nutcase Fruitcake Recipes

NUTS ABOUT FRUIT CAKE

Steps:

• In large saucepan melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat.
• Add KELLOGG'S® RICE KRISPIES® cereal, fruit and pecans (if desired). Stir until well coated.
• Press mixture into six 4 1/2 x 2 1/2 x 1 1/2-inch pans coated with cooking spray. Cool. Remove from pans.
• Cut each cherry into 5 slivers. Arrange slivers in shape of flower on top of each loaf.
• In small bowl whisk together powdered sugar and orange juice. Spoon over loaves. Let stand at least 1 hour. Best if served the same day.
• MICROWAVE DIRECTIONS:
• In microwave-safe bowl heat butter and marshmallows on HIGH for 3 minutes, stirring after 2 minutes. Stir until smooth. Continue with recipe as directed above. Microwave cooking times may vary.

AUNT BERT'S FRUITCAKE COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C).
• Place raisins, candied cherries, dates, and candied pineapple in a bowl; stir in 1/2 cup bourbon whiskey; set aside to soak.
• Beat butter and brown sugar together in a large bowl with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Beat one egg at a time into the butter mixture; beat in vanilla extract and cinnamon with last egg.
• Stir pecans and fruit mixture into butter mixture; stir in self-rising flour alternately with remaining bourbon whiskey as needed to form a soft dough. Drop tablespoonfuls of dough 2 inches apart onto ungreased baking sheets.
• Bake in the preheated oven just until cookies begin to look dry, about 30 minutes. Cool cookies on a wire rack; store in a sealed container lined with waxed paper.

NAN'S BEST DARK FRUITCAKE:

Steps:

• With 3/4 cup of the dark rum, pour over chopped fruit and nuts. Cover and let soak for at least 48 hours. The fruit should be stirred once a day or so.
• Keep remaining rum for after baking directions -- see below.
• Stir flour, salt, baking soda and spices together Set aside.
• In separate bowl, Cream shortening and brown sugar together till fluffy.
• Add eggs and beat one at a time.
• Add molasses, jam and mix well.
• Blend in dry ingredients. Fold in fruit.
• Prepare your round fruit cake pan by oiling and line pan with paper. Oil and flour again lightly.
• Ensure the top of the paper is about 1 inch or so above the top of the pan.
• Fill prepared pans 2/3 full.
• Bake in a slow oven 300°F for 2 hours or so.
• Place a shallow pan of hot water on the bottom rack of the oven during baking. This will ensure the cake stays moist. Remove this pan of water during the last hour of baking.
• Cool completely before removing paper.
• Storing and mellowing of fruit Cake: Wrap a cheese cloth that has been soaked in the remaining 1/4 cup of rum over the cake, covering it completely.
• Next wrap the cake and cheesecloth in aluminum foil wrap.
• Place in a cool place. Taste of cake is best when stored for 4 weeks or so! I've often brushed egg white over the cake, rolled out almond paste and laid it over the top and sides of cake. I then ice it. Everyone raves! NOTE: I've often doubled the recipe for a larger cake.

FRUITCAKE (WITH NUTS)

Steps:

• Set oven to 325 degree.
• Butter and flour a 10-inch angel food or tube pan.
• In a large bowl combine the flour, baking powder and salt.
• Add in chopped dates, pecans, walnuts and both raisins; toss to coat with flour mixture.
• In another bowl beat together sugar and butter until light and fluffy (about 5 minutes).
• Add in eggs and beat well until combined.
• Add in vanilla and lemon zest or lemon extract (if using); mix to combine.
• Add in the dry ingredients (flour, fruit and nut mixture) and fold in JUST until combined (the batter will be the texture of cookie dough).
• Spoon the batter into the prepared pan and smooth out the top with the back of the spoon.
• Bake for about 1 hour and 40 minutes, or until cake is golden and a tester inserted in the middle comes out clean.
• Cool cake in the pan on a rack for 10-15 minutes.
• With a sharp knife, cut around the edges of the cake to loosen.
• Turn the cake onto a rack and cool completely.

DATE-NUT FRUITCAKE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs; mix well. Combine flour and baking soda; add to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk. Stir in the coconut, raisins, dates, pecans and orange zest. , Spoon into a greased and floured 10-in. fluted tube pan. Bake at 300° for 85-95 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack. Place a piece of waxed paper under rack. , In a small saucepan, bring the sugar and orange juice to a boil; boil for 1 minute. Stir in orange zest. Poke holes in cake with a long wooden skewer; gradually spoon glaze over fruitcake. Cool completely.

AUNT NORMA'S RHUBARB MUFFINS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease two 12 cup muffin pans or line with paper cups.
• In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. In a separate bowl, beat the brown sugar, oil, egg, vanilla and buttermilk with an electric mixer until smooth. Pour in the dry ingredients and mix by hand just until blended. Stir in the rhubarb and walnuts. Spoon the batter into the prepared cups, filling almost to the top. In a small bowl, stir together the melted butter, white sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle about 1 teaspoon of this mixture on top of each muffin.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the tops of the muffins spring back when lightly pressed, about 25 minutes. Cool in the pans for at least 10 minutes before removing.

FESTIVE FRUIT & NUT CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 180C/gas 4/fan 160C and lightly grease and line the base and sides of a deep 22-23cm round loose-based cake tin with Bake-o-Glide or baking parchment (see overleaf). Beat the butter, sugar, eggs, flour, ground almonds and spices until thoroughly mixed and creamy, preferably with an electric beater or in a food mixer.
• Measure off 100g/4oz of the cake mixture, put in a bowl and set aside. Fold the fruit and rum into the remaining mixture, then gently stir in the marzipan. Spoon this mixture into the prepared cake tin and flatten with a spatula to make a smooth even surface, then make a slight dip in the centre of the cake. This simple trick will give the finished cake a nice flat top. Bake for 11⁄4 hours.
• While the cake is in the oven, make the fruit and nut topping. Mix all the nuts, cherries and syrup into the remaining cake mixture (see tip overleaf). Spoon the mixture on top of the part-cooked cake (once it has had its 11⁄4 hours), evenly distributing the mixture of nuts and cherries across the surface of the cake. Loosely cover the top of the tin with foil.
• Return to the oven for 40 minutes more, then take off the foil and bake for another 10-15 minutes, so the nuts can turn golden. Keep an eye on them, so they don't get too dark. To test the cake mixture is cooked, insert a fine skewer into the cake - if it comes out clean then it's ready. Cool in the tin then turn out, keeping the lining on, and wrap with foil. (The cake will keep for up to 2 weeks or can be frozen for up to 2 months.)
• To serve, remove the cake from the foil and strip away the lining. Place on a board or serving plate and tie with a decorative ribbon.