Mini Royal Fruit Cakes Recipes

MINIATURE CHRISTMAS FRUITCAKES

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, combine molasses and water; add raisins. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in candied fruit and vanilla. Cool., Meanwhile, in a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add 1 eggs at a time, beating well after each addition. Combine the flour, baking soda and spices; add to the creamed mixture alternately with milk, beating well after each addition. Add fruit mixture, mixing well. Fold in nuts., Fill paper-lined miniature muffin cups almost full. Bake at 325° for 22-24 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely. Store in airtight containers.

MINI ROYAL FRUIT CAKES

Steps:

• In large bowl place currants, golden raisins and dried cranberrries. Zest and juice orange; add to bowl. Zest and juice lemon zest; add to bowl. Pour in 1/2 cup brandy, mix well. Cover with plastic wrap and let stand overnight. Drain extra liquid off soaked fruit, if needed.
• Heat oven to 325°F. Grease and flour a 13 x 9-inch cake pan. To make cake, beat butter, molasses and sugar in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed, scraping bowl occassionally until blended. Gradually add the eggs and flour, alternating until both are incorporated. Stir in soaked fruit. Spread into pan.
• Bake 50 to 55 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean and surface is deep golden brown. Let cool in pan, about 2 hours. Brush with remaining 3 tablespoons brandy. Remove from pan.
• To decorate, cut cake into 12 rows by 8 rows. Place 24 squares, leaving space between each, on wire rack.
• In medium microwave-safe bowl, place frosting from one container. Microwave on High in 30 second intervals, stirring until smooth and pourable. Quickly spoon about 1 tablespoon spoon frosting over each of 24 mini cakes, covering tops and letting frosting drip over sides. Reheat frosting as needed, if necessary. Repeat with remaining frosting and mini cakes. Let stand about 30 minutes or until frosting is set. Decorate with edible fresh flowers and mint, if desired. Store loosely covered.

MINI PRINCESS BRIDE CAKES

Steps:

• Heat oven 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Place paper baking cup in each of 24 regular-size muffin cups. Make and bake cake mix as directed on box for 24 cupcakes. Cool in pans 10 minutes; remove from pans to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes. Remove paper baking cups; cut off rounded tops of cupcakes.
• To assemble each bride cake, place 1 cupcake, cut side down, on individual serving plate. Spread cupcake bottom with 1 teaspoon frosting. Place another cupcake, cut side down, on top of frosted cupcake.
• Spread frosting over stacked cupcake with downward strokes to make ruffled skirt. Add decorations to skirt if desired. Insert bride pick in top of frosted cupcake to complete princess. Continue with remaining cupcakes and frosting, making a total of 12 bride cakes. Store loosely covered.

MOIST AND BOOZY FRUITCAKE WITH RUM AND PORT (A.K.A. DARK BROWN CAKE)

Steps:

• At least 2 weeks before you plan to bake the cakes, place prunes, raisins, currants, cherries, citrus peel, candied ginger, rum, and port in a large container with a lid. Stir fruit once a day.
• When ready to bake the cakes, preheat oven to 250 degrees. Butter and flour two 9-by-5-by-3-inch loaf pans and two 8-by-2-inch round cake pans and line with parchment; butter parchment and set aside.
• In the bowl of a food processor or the jar of a heavy-duty blender, grind almonds to a coarse meal. Stir ground almonds into the fruit mixture until well combined. Working in batches, transfer almond-fruit mixture to the bowl of a food processor or jar of a blender and pulse until a chunky paste forms. Transfer paste to a large bowl or a rimmed baking sheet.
• In a small bowl, whisk together boiling water and cocoa powder until smooth; set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream together butter and brown sugar. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, add vanilla, and beat in eggs, one at a time. Transfer to a very large bowl or stock pot.
• In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and baking soda. Using a spatula, fold flour mixture into butter mixture. Add cocoa powder mixture and molasses and fold to combine; stir in fruit.
• Divide batter evenly between prepared pans and bake until cakes are firm on top and a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean, about 3 hours. Remove from oven and immediately brush tops of cakes with rum. Let cakes cool completely.
• Invert cooled cakes to unmold and brush with additional rum. Wrap cakes in cheesecloth, a clean dish towel, or sturdy paper towels, and then in aluminum foil. Let stand at room temperature at least 3 days before serving, and up to 1 month. Serve cakes dusted with confectioners' sugar or frosted with royal icing.