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Sour Cream Fruitcake

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Sour Cream Fruitcake Recipe

This tasty fruitcake features a sour cream pound cake base, and a filling of some of our very favorite dried fruits: cherries, apricots, pineapple, and golden raisins. Pecans or walnuts complete the picture. For a more colorful cake, add 1 to 1 3/4 cups of red candied cherries to the other fruit. Or, if you'd just like a simple pound cake, omit the fruits altogether and bake it in two pans instead of three. And finally, if you're an aficionado of citron and its holiday friends, feel free to use those fruits instead.

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At a glance

Prep
Bake
Total
Yield
three 8 1/2" x 4 1/2" loaves

Ingredients

Choose your measure:

  • 1 cup dried pineapple, diced
  • 1 cup dried cherries, sour or sweet
  • 1 cup dried apricots, diced, or slivered dried apricots
  • 2 cups golden raisins
  • 1/2 cup brandy or rum, for soaking the fruit
  • 1 cup vegetable shortening or 1 cup (16 tablespoons) unsalted butter
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1/4 cup brandy or rum, to add to the cake batter
  • 3 cups King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 2 cups sour cream, Cabot brand preferred
  • 2 cups walnuts or pecans, chopped

Instructions

  1. To soak the fruit: In a medium-sized mixing bowl, stir together the dried fruits and the 1/2 cup brandy or rum.
  2. Set the fruit aside for 2 hours or longer. Stir occasionally, so the fruit absorbs the liquor evenly.
  3. Preheat the oven to 325°F. Grease and flour three 8 1/2" x 4 1/2" loaf pans. Alternately, line them with parchment, leaving an overhang on each side and securing the paper with metal binder clips.
  4. To make the cakes: In a large mixing bowl, beat together the shortening, sugar, salt and nutmeg.
  5. Add the eggs one at a time, beating until fluffy after each addition.
  6. Stir in the brandy or rum.
  7. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour and baking powder.
  8. Add half the flour to the shortening mixture, and mix well.
  9. Add the sour cream, beating all the time, then add the remaining flour and blend well. Be sure to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl occasionally to be sure all ingredients are evenly incorporated.
  10. Stir in the fruits (they should have absorbed all the liquid; if not, don't drain them) and the nuts.
  11. Spoon the batter into the prepared pans.
  12. Bake the cake for 55 to 65 minutes, or until they're golden brown and a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean.
  13. Remove the cakes from the oven and let them cool in their pans for 10 minutes.
  14. Remove them from the pans and cool completely on wire racks.
  15. Store, well-wrapped, for 5 days at room temperature. Freeze for up to 3 months. (See "tips", below.)