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Modern Mini Fruitcakes

from Mäni Niall's Sweet & Natural Baking


Ingredients:
Butter and all purpose flour, for the pans
1 1/2 cups fresh pineapple chunks, about 1 x 1 x 1/2 inch, or 1 can (8 ounces) pineapple chunks in juice, drained
1 cup fresh or unthawed frozen cranberries
1 cup dried currants
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1 2/3 cups liquid fruit juice concentrate
1 cup buttermilk
3 large eggs
3 cups whole wheat pastry flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice



I know why fruitcake get a bad rap - who wants to eat all of those sugary, Day-Glo-colored dried fruits? But I can't resist a spicy whole wheat cake chock-full of fresh pineapple, cranberries, and currants. Because this cake is such a natural for holiday gift-giving, I bake it in mini loaves to offer as Presents.

1. Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly butter and flour five 5 1/2 x 3/4 x 2-inch mini loaf pans, tapping out the excess flour.

2. In a medium bowl, combine the pineapple, cranberries, currants, and pecans. Measure out 1/4 cup of the mixture and set aside.

3. In another medium 3 bowl, whisk the fruit juice concentrate, buttermilk, and eggs until well combined. Sift the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and allspice into another medium bowl. Add to the wet ingredients and whisk until smooth. Stir in the remaining fruitpecan mixture. Divide the batter evenly among the pans, smoothing the tops. Sprinkle the reserved fruitpecan mixture over the tops of the mini loaves. Place the pans on a large baking sheet.

4. Bake until the tops of the loaves spring back when pressed lightly with a finger, 45 to 55 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes on a wire cake rack. Run a knife around the insides of the pans to loosen the cakes, then unmold onto the cake rack. Cool completely. (Wrapped tightly in plastic wrap, the loaves will keep at room temperature for up to 3 days.)

Makes five 5 1/2 x 3/4-inch loaves

This and many other wonderful recipes may be found in
Mäni Niall's Sweet & Natural Baking from Chronicle Books


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