I don’t drink alcohol, instead, I substituted grape juice for the alcohol. Red wine, rum or Port wine that is traditionally used.
I must say with my version you won’t even miss the alcohol, when I serve this to my hubby, he was blown away and told me how I outdid myself and request I make another cake right away to serve along with my Sweet Potato Pudding and Sorrel Drink.
Jamaican Fruit Cake, also known as, Jamaican Christmas Cake, Wedding cake, Jamaican Black Cake. It is the cake of choice for weddings, parties or any formal occasion in Jamaica.
This fruit cake is usually made by soaking dried fruits in alcohol. It is soaked for as little as a few days to years, usually, the latter is the norm.
Making this cake brings back childhood memories. My mom making several of this cake so she could share it with friends and family during Christmas. The smell of our home was amazing as she baked them.
For my Jamaican Fruit Cake I used Bob’s Red Mills Gluten-Free All-Purpose flour, you may substitute flour of your choice, such as oat-flour, rice flour.
For deep brown color, I used molasses but in Jamaica, we used browning as well. The color was perfect without the use of browning.
How To Make Jamaican Fruit Cake?
To make the cake:
I didn’t have time to soak my fruits so I boiled them in grape just for 10 minutes.
Reserve a small amount to add to the batter as is for the texture.
I used a springform pan for easy release, but a well-oiled baking pan or parchment-lined pan will work fine.
I used a non-dairy butter, Earth Balance Buttery Spread.
For sweetener, I used coconut sugar to help with a deep rich color. You can substitute with a dark brown sweetener like ‘Sucanat’ or turbinado sugar.
Any dried fruit combination can be used but traditionally, its raisins, cherries, mixed peel, prunes, currants but I have made a delicious cake with the addition of Trader Joes Golden Berry Blend.
If you enjoyed this post and would love to see more, join me on Youtube, Instagram, Facebook & Twitter!
Get discounted copies of my cookbook here.
Also please leave a star rating ;-)
Need some encouragement on your Healthier Steps journey?
Join our Facebook groups, sharing lots of delicious vegan and gluten-free recipes, health tips, etc., from our members. Please join us and invite your friends to Gluten-Free and Vegan For Beginners and Vegan Recipes With Love.
Categories
- Categories: Gluten-Free, Vegan
- Course: Dessert
- Cuisine: Jamaican
- Season: Christmas
Nutrition
(Per portion)- Energy: 257 kcal / 1074 kJ
- Fat: 12 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Carbs: 34 g
Cook Time
- Preparation: 20 min
- Cooking: 1 h
- Ready in: 1 h 20 min
- For: 12 servings
Ingredients
- 1 pound dried chopped mixed fruits, (raisins, cherries, prunes, mixed peel)
- 2 cups red grape juice
- 1/2 cup molasses
- 1/2 cup non-dairy butter, softened
- 2 teaspoons almond extract
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 grated lemon zest
- 1 cup Gluten-Free all purpose flour
- 1 cup almond flour
- 1 cup cane sugar, (I used coconut-sugar)
- 2 tablespoons ground flax seeds
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- coconut whipped cream, for garnish
- maraschino cherry, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven 350 degrees F. Spray 9-inch round baking pan and set aside. Place grape juice and dried fruits in a large saucepan on medium heat and bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Allow fruits to cool.
- Place 1 1/2 cups of the fruits and remaining liquid in a blender or food processor and puree. Pour in a medium bowl, add molasses, softened butter, almond extract, vanilla, and lemon zest, mix well.
- In a large bowl, combine, gluten-free flour, almond flour, sugar, ground flaxseeds, baking powder, allspice, and salt
- Mix dry ingredients into wet ingredient and stir well to combine. Add remaining dried fruits and stir. Pour batter into prepare round baking pan. Bake for 60-90 minutes, or when fork is inserted in the center it comes out clean.
Notes
Eggless and excellent! I am a total vegan so I really appreciated this method. I wouldn’t rate if it did not live up to the hype.This cake was the best without any alcohol or egg,etc. It’s off the chain. Michelle needs to enter the Food Network Chopped Competition and bake! I celebrate her culinary discoveries
Delicious beyond!
I just made one last week and will be making another in 2 days…but I will freeze some
Carol, you made my day! Thank you very much for your kind words, I’m so happy you enjoyed it.
Hi Michelle,
Cab I substitute the vegan butter with whipped coconut oil?
Yulonda, yes you can. Enjoy!
Delicious! I’ve never made fruitcake before but love to eat it. My husband things this is phenomenal and we can’t wait to give some away tomorrow! For me this recipe made 3 mini loaves plus 3 ramekins of cake, baked for 45 minutes and then left in the oven as it cooled down. Will definitely be making again – thank you.
Amy, I’m so happy you and you hubby enjoyed it. I made mine today as well.Happy Holidays
Hi Michelle, I will like to make this recipe using spelt flour, is there anything you think I may need to use extra of in terms of liquids etc?
Wendalyn, nothing special at all. It will be great.
this recipe absolutely slaps! i soaked the dried fruit in rum for 2 weeks and then pureed before baking. I also used regular all purpose flour instead with the almond flour and black treacle instead of molasses. absolutely delicious result! this cake will be a christmas staple from now❤️
I’m so glad to have found your alcohol-free recipe but I was also hoping that it would be without nuts too (my husband is very allergic to nuts)….I see this includes almond extract and almond flour….so can I use regular flour and a different extract like maybe vanilla?
Pam yes, this recipe is very adjustable. You can.
Thanks so much for getting back to me! It sounds delicious! I hope you and your family have a very Merry Christmas!
Thank you Pam, your are welcome. Merry Christmas to you and your family as well.
This recipe looks very delicious: this is a must try for me. This is very mouthwatering.
Looks so moist and scrumptious
Thanks for your recipe Michelle. I have been looking for a vegan, non alcoholic great cake for a while. :) If i wanted to soak the fruit ahead of time, can I soak in grape juice or do I need to use alcohol? Also, can you tell me how long does this cake last?
Janelle, you are welcome. You can soak the fruits ahead of time in grape juice and keep them refrigerated.