No Alcohol Fruit Cake Recipe…

This easy no alcohol fruit cake recipe makes the perfect fruit cake for you if you prefer yours without alcohol. It’s an ideal Christmas cake substitute, although I guarantee you’ll love it all year round!

It has the same cosy, traditional fruitiness but without the heavy, boozy richness, which makes it a great option for families, non-drinkers or anyone who just prefers a lighter take on the classic. It’s one of those cakes that tastes like Christmas without feeling quite so intense, so it works beautifully for everyday baking too.

This super easy no alcohol fruit cake recipe is so tasty and I’m pretty sure you’re going to love it as much as we do! We’re not usually fans of fruit cake, especially traditional Christmas cake, but this no alcohol version just feels so much lighter and has a fresher taste. The fruit stays soft and juicy, the sponge is moist rather than dense, and it has a lovely warmth from the spices without being overwhelming. It also slices beautifully, which makes it perfect for gifting or for bringing along to a festive get-together.

It’s also pretty easy to make and although I’ve gone with a cream cheese frosting, you could use any icing you want. If you prefer a more Christmassy version you could absolutely use marzipan and the more traditional royal icing with a few extra touches to make it feel more like a classic Christmas cake. A handful of nuts, some dried cranberries or a simple ribbon round the edge can make it look really lovely with hardly any effort. Even leaving it plain works well because the cake itself is full of flavour and looks so pretty once it’s sliced.

You could choose to bake this no alcohol fruit cake in a circular tin or play around with the recipe to make a larger fruit cake. If you do increase the ingredients, don’t forget to adjust the cooking times so the middle cooks evenly.

This recipe is really flexible, so feel free to swap the candied peel for glace cherries, add some chopped nuts, a handful of raisins, extra spices or even some orange zest for a brighter flavour. It’s a lovely base recipe to customise depending on what you like or what you already have in the cupboard.

No Alcohol Fruit Cake Recipe...

This no alcohol fruit cake recipe is the perfect Christmas cake substitute although, to be fair it's amazing at any time of year.

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Ingredients

• Ingredients:
• 190g (1 1/2 cups) plain flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 Tablespoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves, to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon ginger, to taste
• 75g (1/3 cup) butter, room temperature
• 200g (1 cup) brown sugar
• 80ml (1/3 cup) warm water
• 125ml (1/2 cup) milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 eggs
• 75g (1 cup) candied peel, to taste
• 65g (1/2 cup) chopped pecans or walnuts
• For the frosting:
• 100g (4oz) cream cheese
• 175-250g (1 1/2 to 2 cups) powdered icing sugar
• 1-2 Tablespoons milk, as needed

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350F
2. Grease and line a 9" x 4" loaf pan. Set aside.
3. In a small bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt and spices. Set aside.
4. In a large bowl, combine the butter and brown sugar and beat until light and fluffy, 2 minutes.
5. Add the warm water, milk, vanilla and eggs. Beat until thoroughly combined.
6. Add half of the flour mixture, mix until combined, and then the remaining half. Do not overmix.
7. Add in the candied peel and nuts, to taste.
8. Fold the mixture into the prepared loaf pan and bake for 40-50 minutes until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
9. For the frosting, combine the cream cheese and about 3/4 of the icing sugar for 2 minutes until smooth and light. Adjust the consistency with more powdered sugar or a little milk. There's no exact science to frosting if you ask me - it's different every single time!

Make-Ahead Tips

One of the best things about this cake is that it keeps really well. In fact, it tastes even better the day after baking because the flavours have had time to settle. You can bake it a few days before you need it, keep it wrapped in an airtight container and then add your icing or frosting when you’re ready to serve. That makes it a brilliant option if you’re trying to get ahead with your Christmas prep without adding any stress to your baking list.

How to Serve

This cake is lovely just as it is with a cup of tea, but it’s also delicious warmed up slightly and served with a spoonful of custard or cream. If you’re making it for Christmas, decorating the top with dried fruit, nuts or a dusting of icing sugar gives it a simple, homemade look that feels really festive. It’s also firm enough to slice neatly, so it’s perfect for a dessert table or for gifting in little boxes.

Storage and Freezing

Stored in an airtight tin or container, this no alcohol fruit cake will keep well for up to a week. If you’re using cream cheese frosting, I’d recommend keeping it in the fridge and bringing it to room temperature before serving. The cake also freezes brilliantly — just wrap individual slices tightly and freeze for up to three months. It’s lovely to pull out a piece now and then when you want something cosy with a hot drink.

Whether you’re avoiding alcohol, baking for children, or just want a lighter, fresher version of a traditional Christmas cake, this no alcohol fruit cake is such a lovely option. It’s simple to make, easy to customise and absolutely perfect for the festive season. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

If you think you’ve seen this post before, you absolutely might have. This week’s posts are a little bit special because my very lovely daughter, Miss Frugal, has stepped in to help while I’m feeling a bit under the weather. She’s chosen some of her favourite old posts to share with you again – the ones that bring back happy memories of things we’ve made, done or visited together, and I honestly can’t wait to see what she’s picked. One of the conditions of her takeover was that she was allowed to do it all herself, so I’ve written this little intro for her to add to each post she chooses. I’ll be finding out what she’s re-sharing at the same time as you do. The control freak in me is very uncomfortable with this. 🫢

I’d love you follow me on Twitter and it would be amazing to see you over on my Facebook page and on Instagram. If you’re interested, you can find out more about me here and while I’ve got your attention, if you’re wondering why some of my posts lately are a little bit less frugal then have a read of this post. 😉

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