BUTTERMILK FRUIT AND SPICE CAKE - WHOLE WHEAT AND EGGLESS

Moist and buttery and loaded with dry and candied fruits, Buttermilk Spice Cake has a lovely flavour of the spices. It is a perfect tea time cake for winters and also a quick Christmas Cake.

 Sun finally peeped through the thick fog that had haunted the region for days leaving us wondering if we were ill-equipped to face the cold or was it age factor or was it global warming leading to extreme weather conditions. While the latter looks the most likely reason, the appearance of the Sun definitely lifted the spirits and finally the layers of woolens that had almost concealed the identities were reduced.

We spotted a Rufous Sibia on a tree

The hills enjoyed good sunshine while the foothills shivered and shuddered at the wrath of the winters. In hills where modern amenities are almost nonexistent, people resort to natural ways to keep themselves warm. Villages have houses with thick stone walls plastered with mud that retains the heat inside. The use of firewood for cooking also keeps the insides warm. Kumaonis (people living in Kumaon region of Uttrakhand) also incorporate a lot of madua (ragi or finger millets) in their diet. Tea is had with lots of fresh ginger and ajwain (Bishop’s seeds). Piping hot tea is had with a loud whoosh sound. A lot of warming spices are incorporated in food in different ways.

Recipe edited on 15.12.19

We baked a cake with loads of warming spices.
 The flavour and warmth of spices and the sweetness of fruits made a great combination.
This is also an easy Fruit cake recipe for Christmas. It is Eggless.

If you do not have buttermilk, take 240ml milk, add a tablespoon of white vinegar. Stir and let it stand for 10 minutes. Milk will curdle. Use.

If you wish to get a lighter crumb, use 1 ½ cup all-purpose flour in place of whole wheat flour.

Adding candied orange peels give a great flavour to the cake. I have added homemade candied peels.
Click here for the recipe.

The Cake has a beautiful combination of flavours that come from the spices and peels. Every bite is loaded with dry fruits and peels.

Buttermilk Fruit And Spice Cake (Eggless)

Ingredients

• 1¼  cups whole wheat flour
• 1 cup buttermilk (240 ml)
• ½ cup (1 stick) butter
• ¾ cup unrefined sugar 
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon nutmeg powder
• ¼ teaspoon ginger powder
• ¼ teaspoon clove powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda.
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup glace cherries or dry apricots
• ½ cup black currants
• ½ cup golden raisins
• ½ cup chopped figs
• 3 tablespoons candied orange peels
• ½ teaspoon vanilla essence

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven at 165 degrees C. Grease and line a 9 x 5-inch pan or grease and line one 8 inch round cake pan.
2. Take flour in a deep bowl. Add salt and soda and pass it through a sieve 3 times.
3. Add spices.
4. Now add all the chopped fruits and mix well.
5. In another deep bowl, melt butter. Add buttermilk, vanilla extract, and sugar. Mix well.
6. Add dry ingredients and mix until well combined.
7. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Level with a spoon.
8. Bake for 50-60 minutes or until the top turns brown and just starting to pull away from the sides of the pan. A  toothpick inserted in the center should come out clean.
9. Remove from the oven and let it cool in the pan for 10 minutes.
10. Remove from the pan and cool on the rack.
11. Slice the next day. The flavours will develop fully.