Enhance your holiday with a perfect dried fruit pound cake

Pound cake is one of those traditional desserts that perfectly captures the warmth and magic of Christmas. Its distinctive texture and rich flavors, thanks to the dried fruit within, make it a must-have on the holiday table. This classic dessert symbolizes family gatherings and time spent together, offering an opportunity to celebrate with loved ones. Although it requires some attention and care in preparation, it remains a delightful memory for everyone who has tasted its delectable version at least once. So, how do you make a holiday pound cake with dried fruit? We'll present the recipe.

Preparing pound cake isn't just about following the recipe; it's also about selecting the right ingredients. Their choice affects the taste, aroma, and the cake's texture, which should be light and moist. In this traditional recipe, the base consists of pastry wheat flour, butter, sugar, and eggs.

An indispensable element of pound cake is the dried fruit. Raisins, candied orange peel, and a mix of candied fruits are essential. These ingredients give the pound cake its unique appearance and taste. For variety, consider adding nuts, almonds, or a splash of rum to enhance the cake's deep flavor.

What ingredients are needed for the pound cake? To prepare the holiday pound cake, you'll need 4 1/4 cups of pastry wheat flour, 1 cup of butter, 1 cup of sugar, 4 eggs, 1 teaspoon of baking soda, 1 teaspoon of baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1 teaspoon of cream flavoring, 3 1/2 tablespoons of rum, 1/4 cup of milk, 3 ounces of raisins, 3 1/2 ounces of candied orange peel, 7 ounces of candied fruit mix for pound cake, and optional ingredients for decoration, such as homemade icing and additional candied fruit mix.

How to make a pound cake? First, sift the flour and add the baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Coat the candied fruits in flour. Cream the butter with sugar until fluffy. Gradually add eggs, milk, rum, and flavoring. Combine with the prepared flour, and finally, add the dried fruit.

How to bake the pound cake? Once the batter is ready, proceed to baking. Line the pan in which you plan to bake the pound cake with baking paper or grease it with butter and dust with breadcrumbs. This will ensure the cake doesn't stick and can be easily removed after baking. Place the pan filled with batter into an oven preheated to 340°F and bake for about 75 minutes.

After baking, allow the pound cake to cool, then decorate it according to personal preference. Traditionally, icing and additional dried fruit are recommended.

Despite its simplicity, Pound cake requires mastering a few tricks to achieve delightful flavors. One popular tip is to use a small amount of potato starch to coat the dried fruit, preventing them from sinking to the bottom of the cake. If you prefer a more intense aroma, add a bit of rum or cream flavoring.

Store the pound cake in an airtight container or wrap it in baking paper to keep it fresh for a longer time. This way, it won't lose moisture and flavor. Interestingly, the longer the pound cake sits, the better it tastes. Therefore, making it a few days before the holidays is wonderful.