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Paleo Christmas Fruit Cake & Christmas Recipe Round-Up

Quirky Cooking Paleo Christmas Cake

by Jo Whitton, recipe by Sarah Moran

Well it’s that time of year again, when the Christmas excitement begins to escalate, and we madly scramble for Christmas cooking ideas and gift ideas, try to tidy up the house because family is coming, and wonder why we didn’t get organised earlier this year like we were planning to??? (Or is that just me? Ha ha!)

Christmas always seems to creep up on me. Probably because I’m working and travelling hard, planning for next year, finishing off the homeschool reports for the year, developing new Christmas recipes, cooking for gifts and parties and Christmas day, and also trying to take some time out with family and friends. 

However, we DID manage to get a beautiful Quirky Christmas recipe ebook together using the Grain-Free Dough/Pastry Recipe from our Life-Changing Food cookbook – yay us!!! (If you don’t have our cookbook – or it’s wrapped up and sitting under your Christmas tree and you’re not allowed to open it yet – you can use your favourite pastry recipe with our filling ideas.) Click on the image below to download the ebook!

Note: Want a pastry shortcut? You can buy our Grain-Free Pastry from your local Primalista! See Primal Alternative Stockists for details.

For those of you are still trying to work out your Christmas cooking, here’s a Quirky Christmas Recipe Round-Up for you, as well as our new Paleo Christmas Fruit Cake recipe.

Love listening to podcasts? Here’s some Christmas podcasts from the archives – you’ll find them very helpful for planning your Christmas menus, and calming down that Christmas stress with simple ideas and helpful ways to make this season a time of love, joy, peace, and deliciousness!!

Quirky Christmas Recipe Round-Up

Breakfast Ideas

  • Christmas Breakfast Casserole (pictured left) – prepare ahead with a delicious casserole you can pop into the oven on Christmas morning while everyone opens their gifts!
  • Huevos Rancheros – another savoury breakfast favourite that can be prepared ahead
  • Pancakes, 3 Ways (spelt, gluten free & grain free options) – for those who like a sweet breakfast on Christmas morning; serve with blueberry syrup for a delicious start to the day
  • Chia Pudding with Roasted Berries – prepare ahead and layer in the morning
  • Coconut Vanilla Rice Pudding – an old favourite; add some sultanas and spices to make it Christmassy if you like!
  • Banana Pecan Spice Bread – keep it simple and make this bread days ahead, slice and freeze, and toast on Christmas morning

Mains, Sides & Salads

Baking & Treats

  • Christmas pastries (grain free) – see our Quirky Christmas Recipes Ebook (above) for party favourites like Chocolate Hazelnut Christmas Tree (pictured left), Grain Free Mince Pies, Boxing Day Pasties, Mini Beigli, Apple & Nutmeg Franigpane Tarte, Feta & Mint Fatayer, and more!
  • Steamed Christmas puddings (grain free) – GAPS & Paleo friendly recipe with Thermomix method
  • Gingerbread Biscuits (grain free) – make your gingerbread men and gingerbread stars, and even Pfeffernussen with this dough!
  • Chocolate – our favourite chocolate recipe is in our LCF cookbook – Nutty Chocolate – or if you don’t have the book use this recipe and get creative with fillings!
  • Peanut Butter Chocolate Fudge cheaper than chocolate as it used butter instead of cacao butter, and very ‘moreish’ – we nickname it ‘fat bomb fudge’ as it’s half peanut butter, half butter!
  • Rapadura & Maple Syrup Butter Toffee – my kids’ favourite Christmas time treat, perfect for a little treat in Christmas stockings, or for gifts

Desserts

  • Raspberry Jelly Cheesecake Slice (both dairy & dairy free versions) – this looks so festive with the bright red jelly on top, and is a healthy, delicious version of an old favourite!
  • Raw Macadamia Lime Cheesecake (dairy free) – a Quirky Cooking classic, loved by thousands of people the world over! If you’ve never tried it, you need to!!
  • Lemon Berry Trifle (gluten free, grain free) – this quirky trifle is a healthier version of traditional trifle, but don’t be scared off – it’s always been a hit at every party I’ve taken it to!
  • Strawberry Jelly Pie (gluten free, grain free) – beautiful, bright red, strawberries-in-jelly filling with an almond meal pastry
  • Coconut Vanilla Sorbet (dairy free) – this sorbet is very refreshing, great for a hot Christmas day, served alongside pie or fresh berries
  • Dairy Free Chocolate Mousse – simple to make, and an impressive dessert served in crystal glasses with fresh berries on top!
  • And of course our Paleo Christmas Cake, recipe below!

Paleo Christmas Fruit Cake

Paleo Christmas Cake, Quirky Cooking

Spice up your Christmas with this delicious, grain free Christmas Cake!

Sarah Moran, from Pursue What is Lovely, joined us in the kitchen to develop this great recipe for Paleo Christmas Fruit Cake. Thanks Sarah!

Paleo Christmas Cake, Quirky Cooking
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Paleo Christmas Cake (Grain Free)

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  • Author: QuirkyJo

Ingredients

100g Medjool dates, pitted

1 large orange, zest and juice (100g juice)

3 eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract or powder

60g olive oil, macadamia oil or coconut oil

600g dried fruit, preservative and oil-free, chopped finely (eg. sultanas, raisins, apricots, cranberries and figs)

100g whole pecans

2 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp ground ginger

1 tsp nutmeg

1 tsp mixed spice

1/4 fine sea salt

200g almond meal

100g (approx) blanched almonds or pecans, to decorate

Instructions

Thermomix Method

1. preheat oven to 150C.

2. Grease and line a 22cm round cake tin.

3. Place pitted dates into TM bowl and chop 3 sec/speed 6.

4. Add orange zest and juice, eggs, vanilla and oil and mix 5 sec/speed 4.

5. Add fruit, pecans, spices, salt and almond meal and mix 10 sec/Reverse/speed 4.

6. Scrape down the edges of the bowl and mix 5 sec/Reverse/speed 4.

7. Pour into the prepared cake tin and decorate with blanched almonds.

8. Bake for 1 1/4 –  1 1/2 hours (check by inserting a skewer into the cake after 1 1/4 hours) on the middle rack of the oven.

9. Cool in the tin before serving.

Conventional Method

1. Preheat oven to 150C.

2. Grease and line a 22cm round cake tin.

3. Chop pitted dates finely in a food processor or by hand.

4. Mix together chopped dates, orange zest and juice, eggs, vanilla and oil in a large bowl or food processor, until well combined.

5. Add fruit, pecans, spices, salt and almond meal and mix until combined.

6. Pour into the prepared cake tin and decorate with blanched almonds.

7. Bake for 1 1/4 – 1 1/2 hours (check by inserting a skewer into the cake after 1 1/4 hours) on the middle rack of the oven.

8. Cool in the tin before serving.

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38 thoughts on “Paleo Christmas Fruit Cake & Christmas Recipe Round-Up

    • QuirkyJo says:

      No we haven’t, it would probably need a bit of baking powder if you replace the eggs, as it’s already quite a dense cake and the eggs help it to rise.

    • Sarah Tangye says:

      Use chia seeds in water to make chia eggs. 1 tablespoon chia seeds to 2-3 tablespoons water. let it soak for 15 minutes. It ill go gluggy and a perfect substitute for eggs

    • Maria says:

      Tried this with chia seeds as an egg replacement. As I doubled the recipe, it was 6 tablespoons of chia and 3 times the amount of water and let it sit for 15 mins to absorb. Also added 4 teaspoons of baking powder (again recipe was doubled)
      I baked in a large sheet pan and it was light and fluffy. Gorgeous recipe

  1. Heidi Holt says:

    Oh Jo and Fouad!! Thank you thank you for all of these paleo and gluten free recipes for Christmas! I cannot Wait get into the kitchen and start cooking now. Mwah!

  2. Jen Crawford says:

    Hi Jo. Thank you for your beautiful recipes. I was wondering how far ahead the cake can be made and how long it will keep for? Have a lovely Christmas. Jen

  3. Therese says:

    I had a piece of this cake made by my daughter in law! it was so delicious , I’m off to get the ingredients to make it now!

  4. Karen says:

    Hey Jo, I have made the same Womens Weekly cake for over 30 years up until 3 years ago when I gave up grains and have not made one since, but your Paleo Christmas Cake will be the start of a new tradition. Fabulous!

  5. Tracey says:

    Made this cake today, it’s so easy to make. It’s in the oven now, wish I could share a pic. Thanks Jo for all your grain free, dairy free recipes, Merry Christmas to you and your family.

    • QuirkyJo says:

      Yay Tracey! What did you think of the cake? 🙂 Hope you and your family had a wonderful Christmas too. xx (PS – feel free to share pics on Facebook or instagram)

  6. Sarah Pearce says:

    Hello beautiful Jo. Can you make the grain free dough a few days before using for the Choc hazelnut tree?

  7. Jacquelyn says:

    Thank you for giving me back Christmas cake! My mum has a tradition of making boozy Christmas cakes so it doesn’t seem like Christmas without drunken raisins- so I snuck in brandy to soak the fruit instead of orange juice – delicious!!

  8. Naomi says:

    Thanks for this recipe Jo. I made this cake for my dad. My mum who recently passed away would make fruit cake often. He loved it and loves that it’s a healthy version. Have you ever tried soaking the fruit in brandy or rum? It would make it quite wet tho wouldn’t it…maybe just add some more almond meal do you think?

    • QuirkyJo says:

      Hi Naomi, glad your dad loved the cake. 🙂 Yes, you can soak the fruit first (soak overnight to soak up the brandy/rum). It is very moist so you could add a little more almond meal but it’s not necessary. xx

  9. Tracy says:

    Hi Jo,
    If I wanted to double the recipe would I just cook for an extra 45- 1 hour or would I double the cooking time? Hope you have a very relaxing Christmas.

    • Quirky Cooking Team says:

      Hi Tracy. I would suggest keeping an eye on it and checking in after the extra 45 mins. Just use a knife or a skewer to see whether cooked inside. x

  10. Sally says:

    I have missed eating fruit cake and this is amazing ???????? – just like traditional fruit cake. Thanks yet again Jo x

  11. Maria says:

    Can’t wait to bake a double quantity today. I’ve had the fruit soaking overnight with a dash of limoncello.

  12. Linda says:

    Could dried dates be used? I ask because Medjool dates are so expensive for me and need to be eaten as delicacies rather than hidden in cake.

  13. Pingback: QUICK CHRISTMAS CAKE - no flour no sugar easy and tasty - DoinDubai Magazine

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