St. Nicholas Dried-Fruit Cake Recipe

Name: St. Nicholas Dried-Fruit Cake
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: About 1 cup (1/2 lb.) butter or margarine, at room temperature; 1 cup sugar; 6 large eggs; 1/4 cup molasses; 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour; 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon; 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg; 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom; 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves; 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice; 1 pound (2 2/3 cups) dried apricots; 1/2 pound (2 cups) pecan halves; 1/2 pound dried lightly sweetened pineapple; 1/2 pound (2 cups) dried sweetened cranberries; 1/2 pound (2 cups) dried cherries or blueberries; 1/2 cup apricot jam; 2 tablespoons orange-flavor liqueur

Servings: persons

About 1 cup (1/2 lb.) butter or margarine, at room temperature
1 cup sugar
6 large eggs
1/4 cup molasses
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1 pound (2 2/3 cups) dried apricots
1/2 pound (2 cups) pecan halves
1/2 pound dried lightly sweetened pineapple
1/2 pound (2 cups) dried sweetened cranberries
1/2 pound (2 cups) dried cherries or blueberries
1/2 cup apricot jam
2 tablespoons orange-flavor liqueur

1
Lightly butter a 5- by 9-inch loaf pan. Line with cooking parchment.
2
In a bowl with a mixer, beat 1 cup butter with sugar until fluffy.
3
Beat in eggs, 1 at a time, until well blended. Beat in molasses.
4
Mix flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, cloves, and allspice. Add to egg mixture; beat just until blended.
5
Set aside 6 to 8 apricots, 10 to 12 pecan halves, and 1 pineapple ring.
6
Cut remaining pineapple into 3/4-inch pieces and add to batter along with the remaining apricots and pecans and the cranberries and cherries. Stir until well mixed.
7
Scrape batter into parchment-lined pan, pressing firmly to eliminate air pockets; spread top level.
8
Bake in a 275u00b0 oven until cake is firm in center when touched, about 3 hours. If it browns too rapidly, drape with foil.
9
Cool in pan on rack at least 2 1/2 hours. Lift out cake; peel off parchment.
10
Mix apricot jam with liqueur and brush over top of cake. Decoratively arrange reserved apricots, pecans, and pineapple in apricot glaze; brush more apricot jam mixture over fruit. Wrap airtight and chill at least 1 day.
11
Nutritional analysis per 3 ounces.

1005

kcal

Calories

Fat

106

Carbs

Protein

Fat Carbs Protein

* Per serving · 4 servings · Values may vary.

Tips for the best results

Read through all the steps once before you start and measure out your ingredients first — it makes everything go more smoothly.
Preheat the oven fully and bake on the middle rack for the most even results.
Check for doneness a few minutes early — a toothpick in the center should come out with just a few moist crumbs.
Let it cool before slicing so it sets properly and holds its shape.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and enjoy within a few days.

Variations & substitutions

Use a neutral oil or a plant-based spread in place of butter for a dairy-free version.
Brown sugar instead of white sugar adds a deeper, more caramel-like flavor.
Leave out the nuts to make it nut-free, or swap in seeds for a similar crunch.
A good 1:1 gluten-free flour blend works well if you need a gluten-free version.

No specific allergen information. Please check the ingredient list for possible allergens.

My Personal Notes

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How did you like this recipe?

This recipe makes 4 servings. You can adjust the portion size directly on this page.

You need 17 ingredients. The key ingredients include: About 1 cup (1/2 lb.) butter or margarine, at room temperature, 1 cup sugar, 6 large eggs, 1/4 cup molasses, and more.

Yes, St. Nicholas Dried-Fruit Cake falls under the Baking & Desserts category and is a great choice for this type of meal.

Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3–5 days. For longer storage, freeze for up to 3 months — no need to refrigerate or reheat.

That's it — enjoy your meal!

St. Nicholas Dried-Fruit Cake

Tips for the best results

Variations & substitutions

My Personal Notes

How did you like this recipe?

Frequently Asked Questions