Description
Nigella’s Italian Christmas Cake is a festive masterpiece with warm spices, dried fruits, chocolate chunks, and a luscious glaze. Perfect for holiday gatherings, it’s easy to make, stunning to serve, and delicious to enjoy. Try it this holiday season!
Ingredients
Scale
For the Cake:
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground cloves
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp ground ginger
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups dried mixed fruit (cranberries, raisins, cherries)
- 1/2 cup candied orange peel, chopped
- 1/4 cup almonds, chopped
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips or dark chocolate chunks
For the Glaze:
- 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
- 2 tbsp heavy cream
For Decoration:
- Sliced dried orange
- Whole almonds
- Star anise
- Powdered sugar (for dusting)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line a 9-inch round cake pan.
- Prepare the Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and ginger.
-
Make the Batter:
- Beat softened butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add eggs one at a time, mixing well. Stir in vanilla extract and milk.
- Gradually mix dry ingredients into wet ingredients until just combined.
- Fold in dried fruits, candied peel, almonds, and chocolate chunks.
- Bake the Cake: Pour batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.
- Make the Glaze: Warm heavy cream in a saucepan (do not boil). Add dark chocolate chips and stir until smooth.
- Decorate: Drizzle glaze over the cooled cake. Arrange dried orange slices, almonds, and star anise on top. Dust with powdered sugar.
Notes
- To prevent dried fruits from sinking, coat them in a tablespoon of flour before folding them into the batter.
- Store the cake in an airtight container at room temperature for 3 days, or refrigerate for up to a week.
- This cake freezes well; wrap tightly and freeze for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: ~320
- Sugar: 28g
- Sodium: 120mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 46g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 60mg