Christmas Cake - Low Sugar, Low Fat
Ingredients
- 20 g Ground almonds
- 2 tbsp Brandy
- 1 Orange (zest and juice)
- 115 g Dates
- 140 ml Water
- 75 g Raisins / sultanas
- 75 g Dried prunes / apricots
- 90 g Plain flour - white / spelt / wholemeal
- 2 tsp Raw cacao powder or cocoa powder
- ½ tsp Ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp Ground ginger
- ½ tsp All spice
- Pinch Ground / freshly grated nutmeg
- A few Blanched almonds / pecan halves / walnut halves (optional)
Accompaniment
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Description
Not quite the same as a standard Christmas cake, but a pretty good alternative if you want one that is low in refined sugar and low in fat. It is also dairy free.
Method
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1
Preheat the oven to 160 C. Line the base and sides of a 450 g (1lb) loaf tin with baking paper.
Roughly chop the dates them put them in a small saucepan. Cover the dates with the water and bring to a simmer over a low heat. Simmer for 10-15 minutes until the dates are soft and all the water has been absorbed.
Roughly chop the prunes and /or apricots.
Sift the cacao powder, flour and spices into a mixing bowl. Add the ground almonds and the dried fruit and stir together. Finely grate the zest of the orange and squeeze the juice.
Add 2 tbsp orange juice to the dates and stir into a paste.
Add the dates, orange zest and brandy to the bowl and mix well. It should be a fairly moist mixture. If it looks a bit dry, add a little more orange juice.
Spoon into the prepared loaf tin, smooth the top. Optional - decorate with a few nuts.
Bake in the oven for an hour or until an inserted skewer comes out clean.
Chef's Tips
This does not need to be made in advance like a traditional Christmas cake - make on the day you want to eat it, or the day before (wrap in foil overnight), and eat within 3-4 days.
Double the quantities for a standard loaf tin (900g-1kg / 2 lb).
Use 225 g your preferred mix of dried fruit - e.g. cranberries / cherries could also be used instead of or in addition to those listed here.
Instead of the spices listed here, you could use 1 1/2 tsp mixed spice.
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