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–+ servings
Danish Christmas Cake
This Danish Christmas Cake is a moist, festive fruit cake that showcases traditional holiday ingredients like pitted dates, maraschino cherries, and chopped nuts. Enriched with orange juice and buttermilk, the cake stays tender and flavorful, while a hot orange-sugar glaze poured over the warm cake seals in its richness. This cake is a nostalgic centerpiece for any holiday dessert table, offering both old-world charm and timeless comfort.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Cooling Time 30 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 20 minutes
Course Baked Goods, Dessert
Cuisine Scandinavian
Servings 12
Calories 552 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 ½ tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 16 oz pitted dates
  • 2 cups nuts (chopped, e.g., walnuts or pecans)
  • 10 0z maraschino cherries (cut up )
  • 1 ⅓ cups granulated sugar
  • 3 eggs (large )
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tbsp orange juice
  • 1 cup buttermilk

For Glaze:

  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup orange juice

Instructions
 

Step 1: Prep Dry Mix

  • Sift together flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

Step 2: Prepare Fruit & Nuts

  • Cut up dates and cherries. Combine with chopped nuts in a separate bowl.

Step 3: Cream Base Mixture

  • Cream together 1⅓ cups sugar and 3 eggs until light.
  • Add vanilla and 1 tbsp orange juice; mix until blended.

Step 4: Combine Wet and Dry

  • Alternately add sifted flour mixture and buttermilk to creamed mixture, beginning and ending with flour. Mix until just combined.

Step 5: Add Fruit & Nuts

  • Fold in the date, nut, and cherry mixture evenly.

Step 6: Bake

  • Pour into a greased tube pan lined with wax paper on the bottom.
  • Bake at 350°F for 1 hour 20 minutes.
  • If using loaf pans, bake at 450°F for 1 hour.

Step 7: Make Glaze & Finish Cake

  • While cake is baking, mix 1 cup sugar and 1 cup orange juice in a saucepan.
  • Pour over the cake while it's still hot and in the pan. Allow to soak in as it cools.

Tips

  • Substitute dried cranberries or golden raisins for half the dates for variation.
  • Use lemon juice in place of orange for a tangier glaze.
  • Add 1 tsp cinnamon or nutmeg for extra holiday spice.
  • Can be baked in mini loaf pans for gift giving—adjust baking time accordingly.

Nutrition

Calories: 552kcalCarbohydrates: 101gProtein: 11gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0.004gCholesterol: 44mgSodium: 207mgPotassium: 534mgFiber: 6gSugar: 67gVitamin A: 197IUVitamin C: 11mgCalcium: 79mgIron: 3mg
Keyword Christmas, fruitcake, orange glaze
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