Gluten-Free Vegan Fruit Cake

I’m so excited to share the recipe for this Gluten-Free Vegan Fruit Cake! It’s SUPER moist, slightly boozy, beautifully fragrant and naturally sweetened!

Why you’ll love this Gluten-Free Vegan Fruit Cake

Fruit cake has not always been my absolute favourite, but since making this version I’ve become a little addicted! I made a few adjustments to the more traditional fruit cake that I grew up eating:

• it makes a huge difference if you actively choose your favourite dried fruit (more on that later)
• completely omitting the added sugar is not a problem if you find traditional fruit cake too sweet
• adding ground almonds makes for a seriously moist yet light sponge.

This fruit cake is honestly undetectably vegan and gluten-free and has an almost melt-in-your-mouth texture reminiscent of stollen. Unlike a lot of other gluten-free cakes, this one definitely doesn’t dry out quickly, as the fruit keeps it moist for a long time and the flavour actually seems to improve when eaten the day after being baked. This makes it really convenient for gifting or making in advance when entertaining guests.

How to make this Gluten-Free Vegan Fruit Cake

Scroll down to the bottom of the post for the full recipe.

• Place chopped dried fruits, walnuts and spices in a bowl and add sherry/brandy until covered.

Tip: Leave to soak in the fridge for at least 24 hours.

• Mix together all the ingredients in a glass mixing bowl, using a measuring jug to measure out the plant-based milk.

• Transfer mixture into mini loaf tins (or alternatively use a 18cm / 7 inch springform baking tin or a one-pound loaf tin lined with greased baking paper).

• Bake in oven for 15-20 minutes until risen and an inserted skewer comes out clean (cooking time will need to be adjusted to around 30 minutes if baking as one cake).

How long does this Gluten-Free Vegan Fruit Cake keep for?

This cake keeps covered in the fridge for a few days.

Substitutions you can make to this recipe:

• you can use any type of dried fruit: I used a mixture of dates, cranberries, figs, prunes and apricots, but you can also use raisins, sultanas, sour cherries, mango, papaya or pineapple
• you can substitute the alcohol with orange juice or apple juice
• you can substitute the chopped walnuts with pecan nuts
• you can use any type of oil: coconut oil, olive oil or vegetable oil
• you can use any type of plant-based milk: almond milk, rice milk, soy milk, cashew milk, oat milk etc
• you can substitute the ground almonds with ground walnuts
• for a nut-free version: substitute the ground walnuts with ground sunflower seeds
• you can use plain flour, wholemeal (whole wheat) flour or spelt flour instead of the gluten-free flour if you’re not gluten-free.

More fruity vegan desserts:

• Cherry Bakewell Cake
• Blueberry Pie
• Apple Cake
• Fig Upside Down Cake
• Chocolate Orange Cake
• Raspberry Dark Chocolate Blondies

If you try out this recipe or anything else from my blog, I’d really love to hear any feedback! Please give it a rating, leave a comment, or tag a photo @rhiansrecipes #rhiansrecipes on Instagram! Thank you.

Gluten-Free Vegan Fruit Cake

This Gluten-Free Vegan Fruit Cake is super moist, slightly boozy, beautifully fragrant and completely naturally sweetened.

4.34 from 18 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: British

Keyword: gluten-free fruit cake, vegan christmas cake, vegan fruit cake

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Servings: 6 mini loaves

Calories: 465kcal

Author: Rhian Williams

Ingredients

• 200 g (1 cup) dried fruit, finely chopped (I used a mixture of dates, dried cranberries, dried figs, prunes and dried apricots, but you can use whatever dried fruit mix you like)200 g (1 cup) dried fruit, finely chopped (I used a mixture of dates, dried cranberries, dried figs, prunes and dried apricots, but you can use whatever dried fruit mix you like)
• 1 tablespoon unwaxed orange zest (or sub 1 teaspoon orange extract)1 tablespoon unwaxed orange zest (or sub 1 teaspoon orange extract)
• 50 g (1/2 cup) walnuts , finely chopped (or sub pecan nuts)50 g (1/2 cup) walnuts , finely chopped (or sub pecan nuts)
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon mixed spice (or sub a mixture of nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves)1 teaspoon mixed spice (or sub a mixture of nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves)
• Generous amount brandy or sherry (ensure vegan/gluten-free if necessary - or sub apple or orange juice)Generous amount brandy or sherry (ensure vegan/gluten-free if necessary - or sub apple or orange juice)
• 60 g (1/4 cup) coconut oil (or sub olive or vegetable oil)60 g (1/4 cup) coconut oil (or sub olive or vegetable oil)
• 200 ml (4/5 cup) unsweetened almond milk (or any other plant-based milk)200 ml (4/5 cup) unsweetened almond milk (or any other plant-based milk)
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Pinch saltPinch salt
• 150 g (1 1/4 cup) ground almonds (almond meal) *150 g (1 1/4 cup) ground almonds (almond meal) *
• 150 g (1 1/4 cup) gluten-free flour blend (or sub plain flour if not gluten-free)150 g (1 1/4 cup) gluten-free flour blend (or sub plain flour if not gluten-free)
• 2 heaped teaspoons baking powder (ensure gluten-free if necessary)2 heaped teaspoons baking powder (ensure gluten-free if necessary)
• 1/4 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)1/4 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)

To decorate (optional):

• Flaked almonds Flaked almonds

Instructions

• Place the dried fruit, orange zest, walnuts, ginger, cinnamon and mixed spice in a bowl and add a generous amount of brandy or sherry, until everything is roughly covered
• Keep covered in the fridge for around 24 hours, to allow the flavours to develop
• Before making the cake, preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius (350 degrees Fahrenheit)
• Place the coconut oil in a large bowl and melt over a saucepan of boiling water or in the microwave (skip this step if using any other oil)
• Once melted, add the milk to the same bowl along with the lemon juice, vanilla, salt and ground almonds
• Sift in the flour, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda
• Add the dried fruit mixture (along with any residual brandy), adding a tiny splash more milk if it’s looking too dry
• Transfer mixture into mini loaf tins (or alternatively use a greased 7inch/18cm springform baking tin lined with baking paper, or a one-pound loaf tin)
• Scatter over flaked almonds before baking, if desired
• Bake in oven for 15-20 minutes until risen and an inserted skewer comes out clean (cooking time will need to be adjusted to around 30 minutes if baking as one cake)
• Keeps covered in the fridge for up to a few days

Notes

*You can alternatively use almond flour

Nutrition Facts

Gluten-Free Vegan Fruit Cake

Amount Per Serving

Calories 465 Calories from Fat 261

% Daily Value*

Fat 29g45%

Saturated Fat 10g50%

Sodium 99mg4%

Potassium 345mg10%

Carbohydrates 50g17%

Fiber 8g32%

Sugar 2g2%

Protein 9g18%

Vitamin C 5.1mg6%

Calcium 141mg14%

Iron 3mg17%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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