GOLDEN FRUIT CAKE



GOLDEN FRUIT CAKE

This makes 2 mini loaves. These attractive mini loaves make great presents for someone who lives  gluten-free and lower carb. Place frosted loaves on a pretty paper plate. Cover with plastic wrap and transparent colored wrap (the one I had was transparent with blue stripes). I taped the wrap underneath, but you could bring it up to the top in a bunch and tie a bow around it.

Another idea I like for presents are my spiced pecan clusters (awesome!) or curried walnuts or almond clusters placed in pretty tins.

This flavorful fruitcake is quite moderate in carbs compared to the real thing. Use certified gluten-free oat flour or finely grind the certified gluten-free oats from Bob's Red Mill.

Please Note:  This is a recipe I have made several times over the years but I wanted to highlight it again.  I used Splenda Granular (the analysis is for using Splenda Granular), but, in order to lower carbs use liquid sucralose or liquid sucralose (or stevia).  This recipe is a special occasion recipe and would be more suitable for closer to maintenance-level low-carb eating.  If you are strictly dieting right now - not to worry as in time you can incorporate more moderate low-carb eating.  I am more in favor of moderate low-carbing and have been doing well with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis using this approach.  I had some issues with cutting my carbs too low and thus ended up with a more moderate low-carb approach which I have followed and enjoyed for about 17 years.  When I am dieting to drop pounds, I incorporate Intermittent Fasting (lots on my blog about that or do a Google search for info) and exercising during the fasting hours.  8 hours of the time I don't eat are spent sleeping anyway....and another 8 to 10 hours are awake times.  It's not as difficult as it sounds.  You skip breakfast or supper and work out the times from there.  Depending on your social calendar, you can reverse that occasionally.

1/3 cup dried apricots, chopped
1/4 cup seedless California raisins
1/4 cup chopped dates
1 tbsp lemon juice
2 tsp rum extract
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp grated lemon peel
1 3/4 cups Gluten-free Bake Mix 2
3/4 cup SPLENDA® Granular OR your choice
3/4 tsp baking soda
2 eggs, separated
1/4 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup Hood Carb Countdown Milk OR mixture of cream and water
1/2 cup yogurt
Icing:
1/2 cup Splenda Granular
4 tbsp powdered sweetener
4 tbsp whole milk powder (hispanic section of Super Walmart or
  Publix)
2 tsp cornstarch
2 tbsp butter, melted
2 tbsp water

In medium bowl, combine dried apricots, raisins, dates and almonds. Stir in lemon juice, rum extract, vanilla extract and lemon peel. Set aside. In another medium bowl, combine Gluten-Free Bake Mix 2, SPLENDA® Granular and baking soda.

In food processor with whipping assembly, whip egg whites until stiff. In mixing bowl with electric mixer, beat egg yolks and butter together. To egg yolk mixture, add half dry ingredients, Hood Carb Countdown milk, yogurt and remaining dry ingredients. Fold egg whites into batter and stir in fruit and nut mixture. Spread evenly in two greased nonstick 53/4 x 31/4 x 21/4 inch (15 x 8 x 6 cm) mini loaf pans. Bake in 300°F (150°C) oven 35 to 40 minutes, or until cake tester comes out clean. Let cool in pans on wire rack 10 minutes. Turn out and frost with Icing. Cover and store at room temperature for 2 days. Refrigerate thereafter.

Icing: In blender, combine Splenda Granular, powdered sweetener, milk powder and cornstarch. Add melted butter and water; blend until smooth. Frost mini fruitcake loaves immediately.

Nutritional analysis without icing:10 servings, 1 slice per serving: 89.9 cal; 2.9 g pro; 5.0 g fat; 7.4 g carbs

Nutritional analysis with icing:10 servings, 1 slice per serving: 111.9 cal; 3.3 g pro; 6.5 g fat; 9.0 g carbs

Helpful Hint: Considering regular fruitcake runs at least 25 g carbs per slice, this is moderate in carbs.

Here is another version of the recipe from Splendid Low-Carb Desserts:

GOLDEN FRUIT CAKE (Not gluten-free)
Do you miss traditional fruitcake? I’m not really a fan of fruit cake; however, I really enjoyed this lighter version. This fruitcake is quite moderate in carbs compared to the real thing.

1/3 cup dried apricots, chopped (75 mL)
1/4 cup seedless California raisins (50 mL)
1/4 cup chopped dates (50 mL)
1/4 cup slivered almonds, (50 mL)
lightly toasted, chopped
1 tbsp lemon juice (15 mL)
2 tsp rum extract (10 mL)
1 tsp vanilla extract (5 mL)
1 tsp grated lemon peel (5 mL)
1 3/4 cups Low-Carb Bake Mix (425 mL)
3/4 cup SPLENDA® Granular (175 mL)
3/4 tsp baking soda (3 mL)
2 eggs, separated
1/4 cup butter, softened (50 mL)
1/2 cup yogurt (125 mL)
Icing:
3/4 cup Confectioner’s Sugar Substitute (175 mL)
2 tbsp butter, melted (25 mL)
1/4 cup Da Vinci® Sugar Free French Vanilla Syrup, OR (50 mL)
Low-Carb Pancake Syrup

In medium bowl, combine dried apricots, raisins, dates and almonds. Stir in lemon juice, rum extract, vanilla extract and lemon peel. Set aside. In another medium bowl, combine Low-Carb Bake Mix, SPLENDA® Granular and baking soda.

In food processor with whipping assembly, whip egg whites until stiff. In mixing bowl with electric mixer, beat egg yolks and butter together. To egg yolk mixture, add half dry ingredients, yogurt and remaining dry ingredients. Fold egg whites into batter and stir in fruit and nut mixture. Spread evenly in two greased nonstick 53/4 x 31/4 x 21/4 inch (15 x 8 x 6 cm) mini loaf pans. Bake in 300°F (150°C) oven 35 to 40 minutes, or until cake tester comes out clean. Let cool in pans on wire rack 10 minutes. Turn out and frost with Icing. Cover and store at room temperature for 2 days. Refrigerate thereafter.

Icing: In small bowl, whisk together Confectioner’s Sugar Substitute, page 65, butter and Da Vinci® Sugar Free French Vanilla Syrup. Add extra syrup as needed. Using a cream cheese frosting (think spreadable cream cheese, powdered sweetener, vanilla) will reduce carbs a bit.

Nutritional Analysis: Yield: 10 slices per loaf, 1 slice/without icing
130.7/106.4 calories; 6.1/5.2 g protein; 8.3/6.6 g fat; 7.7/6.3 g carbs