My Mom's Light Christmas Cake

Celebrate the holiday season with “My Mom’s Light Christmas Cake,” a festive and delicately spiced treat that’s packed with the vibrant flavors of dried cranberries, golden raisins, and chopped apricots. Unlike dense fruitcakes, this lighter version boasts a tender, buttery crumb with hints of warm cinnamon, nutmeg, and zesty orange. The addition of pecans provides a delightful crunch, while the batter’s balance of milk and butter ensures a moist, melt-in-your-mouth texture. Perfect for holiday gatherings or as a thoughtful homemade gift, this Christmas cake is easy to prepare in just over an hour and serves up to 12 people. Pair it with a cup of tea or a dusting of powdered sugar for an irresistibly festive finish. Keywords: Light Christmas Cake, Holiday Dessert, Christmas Baking, Fruitcake Recipe, Festive Cake.

Nutriscore Rating: 42/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:60 mins

Total Time:80 mins

Servings: 12

Ingredients

• 2 cups All-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons Baking powder
• 0.5 teaspoons Salt
• 1 cup Unsalted butter, softened
• 1.25 cups Granulated sugar
• 4 large Eggs
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
• 0.5 cup Milk
• 0.75 cup Dried cranberries
• 0.75 cup Golden raisins
• 0.5 cup Chopped dried apricots
• 0.5 cup Chopped pecans
• 1 tablespoon Fresh orange zest
• 1 teaspoon Ground cinnamon
• 0.5 teaspoon Ground nutmeg

Directions

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 325°F (165°C). Grease and line a 9-inch round or square baking pan with parchment paper.

Step 2

In a medium bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, ground cinnamon, and ground nutmeg. Set aside.

Step 3

In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.

Step 4

Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract and fresh orange zest.

Step 5

Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, alternating with the milk, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined, being careful not to overmix.

Step 6

Fold in the dried cranberries, golden raisins, chopped dried apricots, and chopped pecans until evenly distributed in the batter.

Step 7

Pour the batter into the prepared pan, spreading it out evenly. Tap the pan gently on the countertop to remove any air bubbles.

Step 8

Bake in the preheated oven for 55-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.

Step 9

Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing and serving.

Step 10

Enjoy your light and fruity Christmas cake! Store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1437.8g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	5241.1

Total Fat 258.2g	0%
Saturated Fat 133.6g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.1g
Cholesterol 1271.6mg	0%
Sodium 2522.5mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 692.4g	0%
Dietary Fiber 32.9g	0%
Total Sugars 463.0g
Protein 68.2g	0%

Vitamin D 217.7IU	0%
Calcium 548.4mg	0%
Iron 21.5mg	0%
Potassium 2865.4mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 43.3%

Protein: 5.1%

Carbs: 51.6%