Chocolate Christmas Cake || Chocolate and Dried Fruit Cake (Paleo, Vegan, AIP)
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
A delicious chocolate christmas fruit cake that is grain free, dairy free and refined sugar free!
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert / Snack
Serves: 8-10
RecipeIngredients
  • 1½ cups chopped dried fruit (You can use any combination of dates, apricots, dried figs and dried unsweetened cranberries) soaked in ¼ cup hot water.
  • 1 tbsp dried orange peel, chopped fine (optional)
  • 2 tbsp rum (optional)
  • ¼ cup water
  • ¼ cup coconut sugar
  • 1 cup cassava flour
  • 2 tbsp tigernut flour
  • 2 tbsp carob powder or cocoa powder (use carob for AIP)
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • ¼ tsp sea salt
  • 2 tsp apple cider vinegar
  • ¼ cup olive oil or melted coconut oil
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tbsp sunflower seed butter (optional -omit for AIP)
  • 2 tbsp maple syrup
  • 2 tbsp chopped walnuts or pecans (omit for AIP)
  • About ¾ cup hot water
  • extra dried cranberries for topping
RecipeInstructions
  1. About 10-12 hours before baking the cake, soak the dried fruits in ¼ cup hot water. Add the rum to this too (if adding). Cover and keep aside until it is time to bake.
  2. Pre-heat oven to 350 deg F. Line an 8 inch round cake dish OR a 9 inch loaf pan with parchment paper and grease it with coconut oil. Dust with cassava flour and keep aside.
  3. In a small sauce pan add the water and the coconut sugar and heat for 2-3 minutes until you get a dark brown caramel. Turn heat off and keep this aside.
  4. In a large mixing bowl, add all the other ingredients except the hot water and stir with a large wooden spoon or a hand mixer to mix well. Then add the soaked dried fruit along with all the soaked water too. The batter should be fairly thick. Now slowly add the hot water until you get a batter that is thick but flowing. If needed add a couple tbsps extra hot water.
  5. Pour the batter onto the baking pan. Place the pan in the oven to bake at 350 deg F (or 180 deg C) for about 45-50 mins. (Check after 40 mins by inserting a knife or toothpick in the center. If it comes out clean, then the cake is done). Let cool completely for at least two hours before cutting it.
Notes
You can use any combination of dried fruit like dates, apricots, prunes, raisins, dried cranberries etc.- but definitely add dates as they will provide the most sweetness. You need to finely chop the dried fruit otherwise the cake will become crumbly (or it will be hard to slice it)
If you skip adding the maple syrup or honey, your cake will be less sweet than a regular christmas cake.
After mixing the batter, the cake has to be baked immediately.
Recipe by Cook2Nourish at https://cook2nourish.com/2017/12/chocolate-christmas-cake-chocolate-dried-fruit-cake-paleo-vegan-aip.html