Mini fruit cakes
These mini fruit cakes are individual sponge cakes packed with brandy-soaked mixed dried fruit, glacé cherries and slivered almonds. The Thermomix TM7 makes light work of creaming butter and sugar, whisking eggs and folding the batter evenly. Perfect as a festive snack or gift, each little cake delivers a rich, fruity flavour with a tender crumb.
About this recipe
Mini fruit cakes Thermomix TM7 are the perfect festive bake when you want all the deep, boozy flavour of a classic Christmas cake in individual portions. Brandy-soaked mixed dried fruit, sticky glacé cherries, vanilla bean paste and slivered almonds come together in a tender buttery sponge that stays moist for days. Searching for easy dessert recipes with your all-in-one kitchen machine? This is one of the most rewarding: the TM7 creams the butter and sugar to a pale, fluffy base, then blends in the eggs and folds through the flour evenly so every mini cake has the same lovely structure. Because they are small, they bake faster than a large fruit cake and make beautiful homemade gifts wrapped in cellophane with ribbon. Serve them with coffee at a festive afternoon gathering, pack them into a lunchbox as a sweet snack, or make a double batch in December. The brandy maceration can start days ahead, making this a relaxed, well-planned holiday recipe for any home baker.
Preparation tips
- Soak the mixed dried fruit in brandy at least a day ahead, ideally two, so the fruit plumps up fully and distributes its boozy moisture evenly through the sponge during baking.
- Fill the mini cake tins only two-thirds full so the batter has room to rise without spilling over; scatter a few extra slivered almonds and glacé cherries on top before baking for a pretty finish.
- These mini fruit cakes store beautifully: wrap each cooled cake tightly in baking paper and keep in an airtight tin, brushing with a little extra brandy every few days to deepen the flavour over a fortnight.
Recipe variations
- Alcohol-free version: replace the brandy with fresh orange juice or strong black tea for soaking the dried fruit. The cakes keep the same moist texture and fruity depth, making them suitable for children and anyone avoiding alcohol.
- Festive winter variation: add a pinch of mixed spice or cinnamon to the batter along with the vanilla bean paste, and top each mini cake with a blanched almond and half a glacé cherry for a classic holiday look.
Thermomix TM7 Benefits
- Weighing accuracy - The integrated scale of the TM7 weighs the plain flour and sugar directly into the bowl, guaranteeing consistent mini cakes. [Weighing]
- Fine grinding - The Thermomix grinds a portion of slivered almonds into a coarse meal that keeps the crumb tender and nutty. [Grinding]
- Uniform mixing - The TM7 creams the unsalted butter and sugar into a pale, fluffy base in seconds without splashing. [Mixing]
- Gentle heating - Precise temperature control of the Thermomix warms the brandy-soaked dried fruit without cooking away its aroma. [Heating]
- Perfect whipping - With the butterfly whisk, the Thermomix beats the eggs and vanilla bean paste into the batter until silky. [Whipping]
Ingredients
- mixed dried fruit
- brandy
- unsalted butter
- brown sugar
- vanilla bean paste
- eggs
- plain flour
- slivered almonds
- glacé cherries
- baking powder