Kopikala Fruitcake

Not your Grandma's holiday door stop. This blend of tropical friuts and a golden ginger-spiced batter make for a lighter and very delicious holiday treat. Use any combination of dried fruits you like, but one-quarter of the fruit mixture should be candied ginger for the right taste. Also, if you prefer to "brandy" the fruitcake--place on a large square of cheesecloth, brush generously with additional spiced rum and wrap before sealing in foil. Brush with additional rum every couple of days for two weeks before serving. This recipe makes 2 regular or 4 mini loaves.

• Ready In: 2 hrs 10 mins
• Yields: 2 loaves

Ingredients

• 1  cup  macadamia nuts
• 1⁄2 cup  dried pineapple, chopped
• 1⁄2 cup dried mango, chopped
• 1⁄2 cup dried papaya, chopped
• 1⁄2 cup candied ginger, chopped
• 1  cup sweetened flaked coconut
• 3⁄4 cup all-purpose flour
• 3  teaspoons ginger
• 1⁄2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1⁄4 teaspoon clove
• 1⁄4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄4 teaspoon baking soda
• 6  tablespoons spiced rum or 6  tablespoons  pineapple juice
• 6  tablespoons buttermilk
• 1⁄4 cup  fresh orange juice
• 1  cup sugar
• 1⁄2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature (1 stick)
• 1  tablespoon orange zest, finely grated
• 4  large eggs, room temperature

Directions

1. Toast macadamia nuts in a skillet over medium heat, stir or shake constantly to avoid burning. Transfer to bowl and let cool completely. If dried fruits and ginger are in larger pieces, chop into pieces no larger than the nail of your little finger, approximately 1/4-inch dice. Transfer to the bowl with the nuts, add coconut and stir to combine. Set aside.
2. Preheat oven to 275°. Butter loaf pans, or lightly spray with cooking spray, then coat with flour and set aside.
3. In a mediumbowl, combine dry ingredients, flour through baking soda; set aside.
4. In medium bowl, whisk together the rum or pineapple juice, buttermilk and orange juice; set aside.
5. With an electric mixer, cream sugar, butter and orange zest in a large bowl until fluffly. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in ingredients alternately with buttermilk mixture in several additions until just combined. Fold in fruit mixture.
6. Divide batter between prepared pans. Bake for 50 minutes at 275°. Rotate pans in oven, if necessary, then raise temperature to 350° and bake an additional 30-40 minutes. Cakes are done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Turn off oven and let cakes rest in cooling oven for 10-15 minutes.
7. Remove from oven and generously brush with additional rum or pineapple juice, if desired. Let cool in pans for 15-30 minutes. Remove from pans and cool completely before wrapping tightly in foil. Store in refrigerator for 2 days before serving or freeze up to 3 months.