Bring on the Festivities With This Christmas Cake

‘Tis the season to be jolly! And the Christmas cake is the cherry on the icing. Enriched with raisins, almonds walnuts, cashews, lemon zest and orange rinds, the delicious Christmas cake is hard to pass by without grabbing a bite. Be it a traditional family recipe or a modern version, everyone loves to end the day with some cake. But if you’re counting calories, we have just the right recipe for you. This healthy Christmas cake recipe will keep your sweet tooth satiated and ensure that your calorie count doesn’t go through the roof.

INGREDIENTS

Dates, 250 gm

Jaggery, 3/4 cup

Whole wheat flour, 1 cup

Oats, 1/2 cup, ground

Almonds, 1/2 cup, ground

Baking powder, 1 tsp

Baking soda, 1 tsp

Salt, 1/4 tsp

Nutmeg powder, 1/2 tsp

Cinnamon powder, 1 tsp

Clove powder, 1/4 tsp

Dry ginger powder, 1 tsp

Olive oil, 1 cup

Chopped mixed nuts (almonds, walnuts, cashews), 1/2 cup

Raisins/chopped figs or dried fruit, 1/2 cup

Flour to dust nuts and dry fruits, 3 tbsp

Orange rind, 1 tsp

Lemon rind, 1 tsp

Orange juice, of 2 oranges

Low-fat milk, 1 cup

METHOD

1. Soak the nuts and dry fruits in some orange juice, freshly squeezed into a glass bowl. Add the grated rind and cover with a cling film and leave it overnight or for 4-5 hours.
2. Microwave the dates for a minute and add warm milk to it. Let it rest for 10 minutes. Grind the soaked dates along with jaggery and the remaining spices, in a mixer.
3. Sieve wheat flour and oats along with salt, soda and baking powder. Set aside.
4. Preheat the oven to 180 C. Grease a round baking tin with butter and dust it with flour or line the tin with parchment paper.
5. Pour the dates mixture into a large mixing bowl. Add oil and whisk until smooth.
6. Add the flour mixture and stir till well incorporated. Add milk to adjust the consistency in case the batter is too thick.
7. Mix the assorted nuts with 3 tablespoons of flour and add to the prepared batter. Fold gently.
8. Pour this mix into the greased pan, tap lightly and place it in  the oven.
9. Bake for 45-50 minutes at 200 °C for the first 30 minutes. Then lower temperature to 150 °C and cover with foil to prevent burning.
10. Insert a toothpick to check if the cake is done. If the toothpick comes out clean remove the cake from the oven. Allow it to cool completely before cutting it into pieces.
11. Store it in an airtight box and enjoy this sweet treat all through Christmas.

Nutritional value per slice (70 gm)

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Written by Alpa Momaya

You are what you eat, believes Alpa Momaya. So with the right diet, anyone can achieve optimal mental, physical and spiritual health.

Alpa has first-hand knowledge of this – she battled various issues with her own health and weight, but by incorporating good eating habits and regular exercise, she has reclaimed her fitness levels today. She offers the advice she took to HealthifyMe users — make the right lifestyle choices daily, sticking to a nutritious diet, regular exercise and adequate sleep. Don’t think of it as having to solve a problem, instead see it as a way to achieve long and happy life.

After a PG diploma in dietetics from Mumbai University, Alpa did a diploma in holistic nutrition in Canada and is a Certified Nutritional Practitioner today. Along with having worked in various weight-loss clinics and as a consultant for a natural pharmacy, she’s helped her family control ailments like diabetes and hypertension, and hopes to help her HealthifyMe clients do the same. “I can proudly say my daughter happily eats any vegetable or fruit without ever making a face,” Alpa claims, and she is determined that those who consult her will go back similarly impressed.