Ingredients
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100 g raisins
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120 ml brandy or 120 ml apricot brandy
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300 g cake flour, can use all purpose in a pinch (2 1/2 cup)
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3 teaspoons baking powder
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1 teaspoon salt
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4 egg whites, at room temperature
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15 g caster sugar (1 TB)
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210 g unsalted butter, softened (1 cup minus 1 TB)
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170 g caster sugar (3/4 cup)
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1 teaspoon vanilla
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1 tablespoon fresh lime juice (or lemon)
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4 egg yolks, at room temperature
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150 g low-fat plain yogurt, at room temperature
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1/2 cup cashews, chopped
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1/4 cup brown sugar
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1/4 cup all-purpose flour
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1 teaspoon cinnamon
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30 g unsalted butter, cut into small cubes (2 TB)
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2 tablespoons brandy or 2 tablespoons apricot brandy
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100 g dried apricots, finely chopped
Instructions
- Soak raisins and chopped apricots in brandy for 2 hours (preferably overnight in the fridge) - See TIPS above
- Prepare crumb mixture by mixing all ingredients by hand/food processor until crumbly; set aside
- Sift flour, baking powder and salt together, set aside
- Whip egg whites with 1 TB sugar until they form stiff peaks (but not dry); set aside
- Cream butter and 3/4 cup sugar until light and fluffy
- Add egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition
- Next, add the soaked fruits with the brandy and stir gently
- Using LOW speed on your mixer, add the sifted flour mixture, alternating with the yogurt according to this sequence - flour-yogurt-flour-yogurt-flour, until well combined
- Now gently fold the whipped egg whites into the creamed mixture
- Pour half of the batter into greased and floured pan (bundt/square/round), followed by the crumb mixture, then finally all the remaining batter
- Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C / 350°F for 55 mins for Bundt pan, 25-30 mins for square/round pan, until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean
- Remove from oven, cool in the pan for 10-15mins, then cool completely on wire racks
- For a very moist cake, sprinkle brandy syrup on warm cake (I poke some holes using toothpick all over the cake before sprinkling)
- To make brandy syrup - combine 2 TB brandy, 2 TB hot water and 2 tsp sugar; stir to dissolve sugar
- The cake is best made 1 day ahead