Making caramel\r<br> \r<br>Sugar -1cup\r<br>Water-1tbs+1/2cup hot water\r<br>\r<br>Mix 1 cup sugar with 1 tbsp water, heat in a thick bottomed pan, stir in continuously and use only medium heat. The sugar will melt first .As it gets hotter it will change in to a dark caramel syrup. Then add 1/2cup hot water(be careful while doing it, It can cause severe burns.)Stir it well to dissolve completely and allow it to cool.\r<br>\r<br>Soaking dry fruits\r<br>\r<br>Raisins-1/2 cup\r<br>Dried apricots chopped- 12 \r<br>Dried cherries -1/4cup\r<br>Nutmeg powder-1/2 tsp\r<br>Cloves -3 or 4\r<br>Grated orange rind- 2tsp\r<br>Orange juice -1 cup\r<br>Rum -1/2cup\r<br>Dates chopped -6 (Optional , substitute with a dry fruit of your choice)\r<br>\r<br>Add all the ingredients and mix well ,keep in an airtight container for at least 12 hours .\r<br>\r<br>Ingredients for the cake\r<br>\r<br>Cake flour-2 1/2 cup\r<br>Baking powder-2 Tbsp\r<br>Sugar -1cup\r<br>Butter-1 cup\r<br>Eggs beaten-5\r<br>Cinnamon -two pinches\r<br>Nutmeg powder-1/4tsp\r<br>Cloves-1/4 tsp\r<br>Vanila-1tsp\r<br>Caramel-1cup\r<br>Soaked dry fruits\r<br>Nuts chopped -1 cup(You can use cashews, badam and walnuts)\r<br>\r<br>Preheat oven to 375 degree F , line the bottom of the pan with parchment/ wax paper. \r<br>Sift cake flour with baking powder and mix in spice powders. \r<br>Cream butter with sugar, add eggs, vanilla essence, caramel, and beat well till the mixture is creamy. \r<br>You can reduce the amount of caramel to get a lighter color for the cake. \r<br>Add flour, half a cup or less at a time, and gently mix in. Stir in soaked dry fruit mixture. Gently mix. \r<br>Pour into the prepared pan and bake at 375 degree F for approximately 45minutes or till a tooth pick or tester inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean (Start checking after 30minutes).\r<br> Cool on a wire rack and unmold.\r<br>Optionally brush the cake with rum everyday for a week or two.\r<br>\r<br>Nuts chopped and coated with 1 tsp of flour- 1cup(Before you add nuts to batter coat it with little flour.Otherwise it will sink to the bottom of the cake)
