Chocolate Christmas Fruit Cake

The flavor of this cake is rich in dried fruits (figs being the most prominent), housed in a decadent cocoa, honey and spiced batter. The outcome is a dense, flavorful cake with hints of cinnamon, cardamom and nutmeg hitting your palate and just that little bit of icing to smoothen it all.

650 g mixed dried fruits (I used figs, cranberries, raisins, Rainier cherries, candied cherries, crystallized ginger)
175 g soft unsalted butter
175 g dark brown sugar
100 ml runny honey
75 ml fancy molasses
125 ml Kahlua or other coffee liqueur
2 oranges (juice and zest)
1 teaspoon mixed spice (cardamom, nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, allspice)
4 tablespoons cocoa
3 large eggs (lightly beaten)
150 g plain flour
75 g ground almonds
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Cream Cheese Icing:
225 g cream cheese, softened
1 Tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 icing sugar

Garnish:
2 Tbsp chocolate shavings
2 Tbsp sugar gold pebbles

View the full recipe at Sugar Love Spices →