Best Bettys Brazil Nut Fruitcake Recipes

JEWELED FRUITCAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 300°F. Line loaf pan, 9x5x3 or 8 1/2x4 1/2x2 1/2 inches, with aluminum foil; grease foil. Mix all the ingredients except corn syurp. Spread in pan.
• Bake about 1 hour 45 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. If necessary, cover with aluminum foil for last 30 minutes of baking to prevent excessive browning.
• Remove fruitcake from pan (with foil) to wire rack. For a glossy top, immediately brush with corn syrup. Cool completely before cutting, about 24 hours. Wrap tightly and store in refrigerator no longer than 2 months.

SYLVIA'S FRUITCAKE

Steps:

• Grease the bottom and sides of an eight-cup souffle dish or a 9-by-5-by-3-inch loaf pan. Line with brown paper; grease the paper.
• Combine the walnuts, pecans, brazil nuts, dates, apricots, prunes, candied fruits, raisins and cherries in a large bowl. Sift the flour, baking powder and salt over the nuts and fruits. Toss lightly until well coated.
• Beat the eggs, sugar and vanilla in a medium-size bowl with an electric mixer until the mixture is fluffy and light. Pour over the nut mixture. Stir gently to combine.
• Fill the prepared dish or pan, pressing the cake mixture firmly. Bake at 275 degrees for about two hours. (If the top is browning too quickly, cover with buttered foil.)
• Remove the cake to a wire rack. Spoon one-quarter cup of brandy over the cake. Let stand one hour. Invert the cake and peel off the paper. Turn it right side up and let it stand on the wire rack until it is completely cooled. Place the wire rack in a shallow pan and spoon the remaining one-half cup of brandy over the cake.
• To store, wrap the cake in cheesecloth that has been soaked in brandy. Wrap in heavy-duty aluminum foil or store in tightly covered container.

HOLIDAY FRUITCAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300°. Combine fruit and nuts. In another bowl, cream shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Combine flour, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture and mix well. Pour over fruit and nuts; stir to coat. , Transfer to a greased and floured 10-in. tube pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, about 2 hours. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pan to a wire rack to cool completely. Wrap tightly and store in a cool place. Bring to room temperature before serving; slice with a serrated knife.

FESTIVE FRUIT & NUT CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 180C/gas 4/fan 160C and lightly grease and line the base and sides of a deep 22-23cm round loose-based cake tin with Bake-o-Glide or baking parchment (see overleaf). Beat the butter, sugar, eggs, flour, ground almonds and spices until thoroughly mixed and creamy, preferably with an electric beater or in a food mixer.
• Measure off 100g/4oz of the cake mixture, put in a bowl and set aside. Fold the fruit and rum into the remaining mixture, then gently stir in the marzipan. Spoon this mixture into the prepared cake tin and flatten with a spatula to make a smooth even surface, then make a slight dip in the centre of the cake. This simple trick will give the finished cake a nice flat top. Bake for 11⁄4 hours.
• While the cake is in the oven, make the fruit and nut topping. Mix all the nuts, cherries and syrup into the remaining cake mixture (see tip overleaf). Spoon the mixture on top of the part-cooked cake (once it has had its 11⁄4 hours), evenly distributing the mixture of nuts and cherries across the surface of the cake. Loosely cover the top of the tin with foil.
• Return to the oven for 40 minutes more, then take off the foil and bake for another 10-15 minutes, so the nuts can turn golden. Keep an eye on them, so they don't get too dark. To test the cake mixture is cooked, insert a fine skewer into the cake - if it comes out clean then it's ready. Cool in the tin then turn out, keeping the lining on, and wrap with foil. (The cake will keep for up to 2 weeks or can be frozen for up to 2 months.)
• To serve, remove the cake from the foil and strip away the lining. Place on a board or serving plate and tie with a decorative ribbon.

FRUITCAKE

Steps:

• Stir together dried fruit, candied ginger, peel, and 1/2 cup liqueur. Let stand at room temperature 3 hours or overnight.
• Cut parchment paper to line the bottom of a 7-by-3-inch or 9-by-2-inch round cake pan. Coat pan with cooking spray; line with parchment. Spray lining. Flour pan; tap out excess.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Whisk together flour, baking powder, spices, and salt in a medium bowl; set aside. Put butter and sugars in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle; mix on medium speed until smooth. Mix in eggs (1 at a time), molasses, and vanilla. Gradually add flour mixture; mix until smooth. Mix in fruit, nuts, and coconut.
• Pour batter into pan. Bake until a cake tester comes out clean, about 2 1/2 hours for 9-inch cake or 2 3/4 hours for 7-inch cake. If desired, brush with up to 1/2 cup liqueur. Unmold; let cool.