Fruit Cake is Back and It's Calorie Friendly!

Who would have ever thought that a fruitcake wedding cake would spike the sales of fruit cake all over the world. US bakeries reported a 20% spike in sales after the wedding of William and Kate.

We all know that fruitcake is not typically a "figure friendly" dessert choice with calories spiking nearly 600 calories per slice in some recipes. I have found a Cooking Light recipe for a fruitcake with 233 calories per slice. It is a dense cake packed with fresh apple and pear, tart cherries and golden raisins. For the past two years I have made this for my mother for Christmas. She loves an old fashioned fruitcake, but has become a big fan of this lighter version. I thought I would share the recipe with you. It makes a beautiful holiday gift--------or just make one for yourself to enjoy during the holidays!

Happy Baking!



Lighter Fruitcake

  Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Cindy Barr                

Nutritional Information

Amount per serving

• Calories: 283
• Fat: 8.9g
• Saturated fat: 2.9g
• Monounsaturated fat: 3.7g
• Polyunsaturated fat: 1.6g
• Protein: 4.2g
• Carbohydrate: 42.4g
• Fiber: 2.8g
• Cholesterol: 33mg
• Iron: 1.3mg
• Sodium: 202mg
• Calcium: 59mg

 INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 cup dried tart cherries                 

• 1/2 cup chopped pitted dates
• 1/3 cup golden raisins
• 3/4 cup Calvados (apple brandy), divided
• 5.6 ounces unbleached all-purpose flour (about 1 1/4 cups)              
• 4.75 ounces whole-wheat flour (about 1 cup)              
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon              
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon allspice
• 5 tablespoons butter, divided              
• 2 tablespoons canola oil              
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar, divided              
• 2 large eggs              
• 1 large egg white              
• 1 teaspoon grated peeled fresh ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon grated orange rind              
• 2/3 cup low-fat buttermilk
• 1/2 cup chopped peeled Pink Lady apple              
• 1/2 cup chopped peeled pear              
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans, toasted
• Baking spray with flour (such as Baker's Joy)

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. Combine first 3 ingredients and 1/2 cup brandy in a medium glass bowl. Microwave at HIGH 2 minutes, stirring after 1 minute. Set aside.
3. Weigh or lightly spoon flours into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flours and next 6 ingredients (through allspice) in a bowl; stir well.
4. Place 4 tablespoons butter, oil, granulated sugar, and 1/2 cup brown sugar in a bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until blended. Add eggs and egg white, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add ginger and orange rind; beat 30 seconds. Add flour mixture and buttermilk alternately to sugar mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Fold in cherry mixture, apple, pear, and pecans.
5. Spoon batter into a 10-inch Bundt pan coated with baking spray; smooth top with a spatula. Bake at 350° for 45 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pan for 20 minutes on a wire rack. Remove from pan; cool completely.
6. Combine remaining 1/4 cup brandy, remaining 1/4 cup brown sugar, and remaining 1 tablespoon butter in a small saucepan over medium heat; bring to a boil. Cook 2 minutes or until reduced to 1/4 cup, stirring well. Drizzle over cake.

Sidney Fry, MS, RD, Cooking Light
DECEMBER 2012


ENJOY!
K