Winter Spice Tube Cake

Name: Winter Spice Tube Cake
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 1 h 20 min
Yield: 12 servings.
Cuisine: Comfort Food Desserts, Comfort Food Recipes
Ingredients: 1 cup golden raisins; 1 cup dried cranberries; 1/2 cup dark rum or 1/4 cup orange juice and 1/4 cup apple cider; 2 teaspoons grated orange zest; 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1 teaspoon ground ginger; 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice; 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves; 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg; 1-1/2 cups apple cider or juice; 1 cup packed dark brown sugar; 2/3 cup butter, cubed; 2 large eggs, lightly beaten; 2 cups all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon salt; 1 teaspoon baking powder; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 1/2 cup chopped walnuts; 1/2 cup chopped pecans; Sweetened whipped cream

This lightly sweet cake is chock full of fruit and nuts and makes a terrific breakfast, tea or dessert bread. Freshly grind the spices for best flavor. —Renee Roberts, Sleepy Hollow, New York

Ingredients

1 cup golden raisins
1 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup dark rum or 1/4 cup orange juice and 1/4 cup apple cider
2 teaspoons grated orange zest
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1-1/2 cups apple cider or juice
1 cup packed dark brown sugar
2/3 cup butter, cubed
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup chopped pecans
Sweetened whipped cream

Directions

In a large saucepan, combine the first nine ingredients. Bring to a boil. Cook and stir 2-3 minutes or until fruit is softened. Stir in apple cider, brown sugar and butter. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 8-10 minutes or until slightly thickened, stirring frequently. Transfer to a large bowl; cool to room temperature, about 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
Preheat oven to 325°. Grease and flour a 10-in. fluted tube pan. Add eggs to fruit mixture; mix well. In another bowl, whisk flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda. Add to fruit mixture; stir just until moistened. Stir in nuts.
Transfer batter to prepared pan. Bake 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool. Serve warm or at room temperature with whipped cream.

Editor’s Note: To remove cakes easily, use solid shortening to grease plain and fluted tube pans.