Holiday Cheddar Date Cake
Description
A festive holiday cake combining the savory tang of sharp cheddar with the sweetness of dates, raisins, and candied cherries. This dense, moist cake is studded with pecans and flavored with cinnamon and cloves. It bakes in a tube pan and keeps well for several weeks, making it a perfect make-ahead dessert for the holidays.Directions
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Preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C). Grease and flour a 10-inch tube pan and set aside.
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In a large bowl, beat the butter and brown sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until well blended.
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Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
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Beat in the cheddar cheese.
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Sift the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and cloves into a medium bowl.
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In another medium bowl, combine the dates, pecans, cherries, and raisins.
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Add 2 tablespoons of the flour mixture to the fruit and nut mixture, tossing lightly to coat.
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Alternately beat the remaining flour mixture and milk into the butter mixture until well blended.
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Stir in the floured fruit and nut mixture by hand until distributed throughout the batter.
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Turn the batter into the prepared pan.
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Bake for 2 to 2 1/2 hours until the cake shrinks from the side of the pan and the top springs back when lightly pressed.
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Cool for 15 minutes in the pan on a wire rack, then remove from the pan.
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Cool completely on the wire rack.
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Optional: You can make a decorative design on the top of the cake by quartering the candied pineapple slices and using the whole almonds.
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When cool, store in a container with a tight lid for up to 6 weeks.
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To serve, cut into thin slices.
Nutrition Facts
Servings 12 servings
- Amount Per Serving
- Calories 285kcal
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat 14.4g23%
- Saturated Fat 2.5g13%
- Cholesterol 24mg8%
- Sodium 270mg12%
- Total Carbohydrate 37.1g13%
- Dietary Fiber 4.4g18%
- Sugars 23.7g
- Protein 6.1g13%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
cheddar, date, cake, holiday, dessert, fruitcake, pecans, raisins, cinnamon, cloves, baking, cheese, spiced, nutty
