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Natural Fruit Cake

Wed, 2009-12-23 00:30 by Tammy  
Recipe Name: 
Natural Fruit Cake
Picture: 
Natural fruit cake
Description: 

An all-natural fruit cake with pecans, dates, and pineapple!

Yield: 

4-5 dozen small slices

Ingredients: 

1 cup honey
4 eggs
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour*
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
12 ounces chopped pecans**
12 ounces dried pineapple slices, finely chopped
12 ounces dried pitted dates, finely chopped**

Instructions: 

1. In a large bowl, combine the honey, eggs, flour, vanilla, and salt, stirring until well-mixed.

2. Add the nuts and dried fruit, and stir well.

3. Grease small loaf pans -- either four 3x5-inch pans or six mini loaf pans (1.5x4.5-inch).

4. Pack fruit cake batter tightly into the greased pans and bake at 325 degrees for 45-55 minutes or until the cake tests done (clean toothpick or fork in center). Edges will be browned.

5. Remove cake from pans and allow to cool on a wire rack. Slice thinly.

Fruit cake can be frozen (I wrap in wax paper and then in foil for freezing).

Natural Fruit Cake

Natural Fruit Cake

Additional Notes: 

*May substitute regular whole wheat flour.

**I used a food processor to chop the pecans and dates, which worked well and was very fast. I did try chopping the pineapple slices in there also, but it balled up and didn't get quite as fine as I had planned. I think the pineapple would be best chopped by hand. :)

Another baking option is to bake the batter in foil-lined muffin cups rather than loaf pans. However, I prefer the small slices of the mini loaf pans.

Natural Fruit Cake

Preparation Time: 

15-20 minutes

Cooking Time: 

45-55 minutes

Tammy's Review: 

This is a really yummy and healthy fruit cake! One of Joshua's co-workers gave us a sample and the recipe.

I am not really a huge fan of dried pineapple or dates, BUT I think the combination of flavors in this fruit cake is delicious!

It's sweet, but also very filling. Joshua and I both think it reminds us of a fruit and nut granola bar type of treat.

This recipe is really easy to make; we ate two of the mini loaves and froze the other 4 for later or to give as gifts.

I did figure out that this recipe was rather pricey to make (almost $12 for 6 mini loaves!) so I'm not sure it will be regular fare at our house, but it's definitely a fun treat!

I haven't tried his recipe with different fruit and nut combinations, but I think that equivalent weights of various other nuts and fruits (walnuts, cranberries, blueberries, raisins, etc.) would work quite well. :)

Natural Fruit Cake

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