Double-layer fruitcake

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PREP TIME

45 min

Makes

1 cake, 12 slices

* PLUS Cooking time: 2 minutes, Baking Time: 35 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 cup butter , at room temperature
  • 1 1/2 to 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3 tsp ground allspice
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 cup drained crushed pineapple
  • 1 cup coarsely chopped toasted nuts , such as pecans or almonds
  • 1 1/2 cups sweetened coconut , preferably angel flake or fine shred
  • 1 cup raisins
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup corn syrup
  • 1/3 cup milk
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp vanilla

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350F (180C). Grease the bottoms of two 9-inch (23-cm) round pans or coat with cooking spray. Line with waxed paper and grease again.
  • Using an electric mixer or a wooden spoon, beat 1 cup butter and 1-1/2 to 2 cups sugar together until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating constantly until blended. Measure flour, allspice and soda into a bowl. Stir with a fork until blended. Mix pineapple, nuts, coconut and raisins in another bowl.
  • Beat a third of the flour mixture into the butter mixture, then half of the buttermilk. Repeat, ending with last third of flour mixture. Stir in pineapple mixture until evenly distributed. Spoon into pans, then smooth tops. Bake in centre of preheated 350F (180C) oven until cakes start to pull away from sides of pan, and a cake tester inserted near centre comes out fairly clean, from 35 to 40 minutes. Cool on a rack for 10 minutes. Turn out and remove waxed paper. Then, finish cooling on rack. Invert one layer, bottom-side up, onto a plate.
  • For glaze, fill sink with about 2 inches (5 cm) cold water. Measure 2 cups sugar, corn syrup, milk, 1/2 cup butter and salt into a large saucepan. Place over low heat and stir until butter is melted. Raise heat to medium-high and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Boil 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Place pan in cold water. Beat just until it begins to thicken, 2 to 3 minutes for a glaze that will drip down cake sides or 4 to 5 minutes for a fudge-like frosting. Spoon about one-third of icing over bottom of inverted layer. Spread evenly. Top with remaining layer, right-side up. Spoon rest of icing overtop, spreading decoratively. Icing will firm up on cake. Cake will keep well, covered, in refrigerator for up to 1 week or can be frozen up to 1 month.

Nutrition (per serving)

  • Calories
  • 739,
  • Protein
  • 7.4 g,
  • Carbohydrates
  • 106.9 g,
  • Fat
  • 33.6 g,

This family recipe originated way down south in Louisiana over a half century ago and immigrated with Vi Heath to Kamloops, B.C. Chock-full of pineapple, toasted nuts, raisins and coconut, we find it more like a carrot cake than a fruitcake–only better than both. Yes, it’s possible! Since we don’t have a sweet tooth, we’ve included a choice of sugar amounts and tested with both.

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