Plum Cake (Indian fruit cake)

This is the classic holiday fruit cake, it is a very special cake in Christmas eve, but all time fav for my sisters. This recipe is specially dedicated to my sister Sushika Priyadarshini and cute little rowdy Swathika. I was so nervous as this was the first time i tried to bake this cake but i wasn't able to believe myself because it was absolute success, i followed this recipe from one of my fav blog with some changes. When you read this recipe you may feel it is very difficult, but this takes the usual time of baking a simple cake, only thing is you should get prepared the day before you bake this cake as it involves soaking of dry fruits.

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups Mixed dry fruits (Tutty frutty, dates, raisin, dry cherry etc.,)
1 cup nuts (Almonds, cashews) [Coat theses nuts with 1 tablespoon of flour)
1 cup Self raising flour
3/4 cup Sugar
1/2 teaspoon Baking soda
1 teaspoon Baking powder
1/4 teaspoon Salt 
3 large Eggs
1/2 cup Butter
1 1/2 tablespoon Orange Zest
1/2 teaspoon Spice powder (Cinnamon and clove)
2 teaspoon Rum extract
1 teaspoon Vanilla essence
1 cup Orange juice (Approx)

For Caramel
1/4 cup Brown Sugar or white sugar
1 tablespoon water
1/4 cup warm water


Method

• Get prepared the day before you bake this cake!
• Warm the orange juice by just keeping in low flame for a min and Soak the dry fruits in orange juice, to that add the rum essence, soak atleast for overnight or few days, i soaked the dry fruits just the day before i prepared this cake, i.e 24 hrs.

• Heat pan in medium heat and add sugar and 1 tablespoon of water. When the sugar starts to caramelize, stir slowly. Sugar will slowly change its color from light brown to dark brown, in this stage switch off the stove and pour the warm water and let it cool completely.(Please be very cautious when you pour the warm water, it splutters all around. So don't stand near to your pan when you pour the warm water).

• Preheat oven 350 degrees F (Approx 175 degree C), grease loaf pan with a teaspoon of butter or use cooking spray.
• Cream the butter with sugar and then add the eggs and beat well with your hand mixer or mixer of your choice.
• To this cream add vanilla essence, cooled Caramel and beat well.
• Sift self raising flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and spice powder.
• Add the flour mixture into the butter mixture slowly and fold it.
• Add the soaked dry fruits, orange zest and nuts and fold slowly.
• Pour into the greased pan and cook in the middle rack for 30-40 mins. (For me it took 38 mins).
• After it is cooked, allow it to cool for 15 mins and remove from the pan and let it cool completely in the cooling rack.
• Delicious Plum cake is ready to be served.

Note

• If you have excess orange juice which was used for soaking the dry fruits, you can add it to the cake, that is not more than 4 tablespoon.
• The alcohol (Rum essence) is evaporated while baking so this cake is safe for all ages. You can skip the Rum extract but definitely you won't get the exact plum cake flavor.
• Before pouring the cake mixture line a baking sheet in the loaf  pan as the baking time is longer.
• You can add or skip any nuts or dry fruits, it is all your choice.