Want to make Kerala Plum Cake? Follow these easy recipes to try it out this time

Kerala Plum Cake is easily a Christmas special and while the festival may be over the festive season is still not over and will continue this entire weekIf you are still in the mood to celebrate and want to put on your chefs hat then chefs say you can try making the delicious version of the plum cake at homeBeing of those who make it in India chef Ravinder Kumar executive chef Karma Lakelands a 270acre ecoresort in Gurgaon says Kerala plum cake is more than just a dessert its a rich tapestry of flavours and traditions that truly captures the essence of Christmas What sets it apart is the way fruits are soaked in rum or wine for weeks sometimes months before being baked to perfection At Karma Lakelands we embrace this tradition crafting our plum cake with meticulously sourced spices nuts and dried fruits to ensure an authentic and memorable experience Itrsquos a cake that tells a story one of patience warmth and festive cheerIt is no different for chef Arvind Baghe who makes the cake at the Boulangerie Araiya Palampur in Himachal PradeshKerala Plum CakeChef Baghe shares The Kerala plum cake is a story of resilience and harmony mdash fruits and spices soaked in time caramel that mirrors lifes sweetness and the warmth of tradition baked into every bite At Araiya itrsquos not just a cake itrsquos a celebration of cultures meeting on a plate Unlike the Western fruitcakes he highlights how the Kerala version bursts with tropical flavoursmdashcandied fruits soaked in rum the warmth of cinnamon nutmeg and clove and the depth of caramel syrupIngredientsRefined flour 300 gmMixed dried fruits raisins dates cherries and orange peel 300 gmMixed nuts cashews almonds and walnuts chopped 50 gmUnsalted butter softened 50 gmPowdered sugar 200 gmEggs large 4 nosVanilla extract 1 tspBaking powder 1 tspCinnamon powder 12 tspNutmeg powder 14 tspClove powder 14 tspCaramel syrup 2 tbspRum or orange juice for nonalcoholic version 12 cupA pinch of saltMethod1 Prepare the dry fruits Soak the dried fruits in rum or orange juice overnight for a rich flavour2 Make the caramel syrup Heat 4 tbsp of sugar in a pan until it melts and turns golden brown Carefully add 2 tbsp of water and mix until smooth Cool it down3 Prepare the batter Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit 175 degrees Celsius Grease and line a baking tin4 In a bowl sift flour baking powder spices and salt together5 Cream butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy Add eggs one at a time beating well after each addition Stir in vanilla extract and caramel syrup6 Gently fold in the flour mixture Add the soaked fruits and nuts4 Bake Pour the batter into the prepared tin Bake for 40 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean Let the cake cool before servingKerala Plum CakeChef Mozanne Karbhari sous chef ITC Grand Central in Mumbai says ldquoRich dried fruits steeped in rum or brandy a distinctive caramel flavor that gives it a rich sweet taste and a particular blend of spices are what make Kerala plum cake stand out Keralas varied cultural influences are reflected in this dish whose recipe has changed throughout the centuries to become what we eat for Christmas todayrdquoIngredientsDried fruits 500 gmRum or brandy 1 cupSugar 1 cupUnsalted butter 200 gmEggs 4 nosAllpurpose flour 2 cupsBaking powder 1 tspBaking soda 12 tspGround spices 1 tspVanilla essence 1 tspOrange zest 1 tspNuts cashews almonds 12 cupMethod1 For a deeper flavour soak dried fruits in rum or brandy for at least two to three days or weeks2 In a pan melt sugar until it turns deep amber Carefully add frac14 cup of water and mix to create a syrup Allow it to cool3 Combine the flour baking soda baking powder and spices in a sieve4 Beat sugar and butter till light and fluffy One by one add the eggs thoroughly mixing each time Add orange zest and vanilla essence and stir5 Add the chopped nuts soaked fruits and caramel syrup to the wet mixture Gradually fold in the dry ingredients6 Fill a lined cake tin with the batter After 60 to 70 minutes of baking at 160degC in a preheated oven a toothpick should come out clean7 Allow the cake to fully Before serving allow it to sit for a few days for maximum flavourKerala Plum CakeChef Sourabh Das founder of Craft of Food 20 in Bandra shares The Kerala Plum Cake stands apart because of its rich flavours intricate preparation and connection to tradition What makes it unique is soaking of fruits in a blend of aromatic spices and rum for weeks sometimes months creating a depth of flavour thatrsquos unparalleled Itrsquos not just a dessertmdashitrsquos a slice of heritage embodying warmth nostalgia and the joy of festive celebrationsSoak the following dry fruits and nuts in a combination of fruit juice Cranberry Mix Fruit Juice and Orange Juice for at least 24 hoursBlack cranberries 100 gmRed cranberries 100 gmDried blueberries 100 gmGreen raisins 100 gmBrown raisins 100gBlack Raisins 100gMejdool Dates 100gCandied Peel 100gPrunes 100gTutti Frutti 100gDried Figs Chopped 100gCashew Nuts 100gAlmond 100gPecan Nut 100gWalnut 100gPine Nuts 100gPistachio 100gHazelnut 100gBrazil Nut 100gMacadamia 100gLemon ZestOrange ZestFruit Juice As RequiredChristmas Spice Mix Cinnamon Cloves Star Anise and Nutmeg 2 tspMethod1 Cut the big dry fruits and nuts into mediumsize pieces and remove the inedible part2 Soak in the mixture of fruit juice and christmas spice mixIngredients for batterDry ingredientsFlour 150 gmBaking powder 2 gmBaking soda 1 gmChristmas spice mix 5 gmSalt 2 gmWet ingredientsDark muscovado sugar 20 gmCranberry juice 25 gmOrange juice 25 gmMix fruit juice 25 gmButter 110 gmEvaporated milk 20 gmCondensed milk 130 gmVanilla bean 1 no Vanilla essence 5 gmAlmond powder 10 gmAlmond chopped 10 gmCashewnut chopped 10 gmWalnut chopped 10 gmLemon zest 5 gmOrange zest 5 gmCandied peel 30 gmMolassesBlackJack 65 gmChristmas Spice MixCinnamon 50 gmCloves 50 gmStar anise 3 nosNutmeg 1 noMethod1 Grate the nutmeg and keep the powder aside2 Individually dry roast the remaining spices and grind into a powder3 Add all the ingredients together4 The christmas spice mix is readyMethodDry Ingredients1 Sift and sieve all the dry ingredients together and keep it aside in a bowlWet ingredients1 In a pan add butter dark muscovado sugar juices molasses and heat it using slow flame2 Cook till everything melts3 Remove from flame4 Add evaporated milk condensed milk vanilla essence5 Add the remaining ingredients6 Mix it well and keep it asideCut and fold technique1 Cut and fold the dry ingredients properly into the wet ingredients2 Keep it asideWeigh separately the batter and soaked fruitsRatio Batter Soaked Fruits 2 1Batter Soaked Fruits 200 gm 100 gmMethod1 Remove 50 gm of batter and fold the soaked fruits into it2 Add the remaining batter3 Fold it softly and the batter is ready4 Portion it according to the desired pan5 On the top of the batter add a whole single piece of every dry fruits and nuts used in the making of this cake6 Baking in a preheated oven Temperature 160 degrees Celsius and time 55 minutes approximate7 Check the cake using a toothpick8 Christmas Kerala Plum Cake is ready