Apparently Christmas in July came about because our European settler friends weren’t keen on celebrating in 40 degree heat and not a snowflake in sight. Us Aussies though are up for a feast t any old time so Christmas in July it is! Here’s a healthy Christmas Cake to jump start the festivities.
INGREDIENTS
1 cup almond meal
1 cup dried dates
2 tablespoons coconut flour
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground ginger
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon orange zest
Pinch of salt
3 eggs
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons chia seeds
½ cup water
½ cup chopped prunes
½ cup chopped apricots
½ cup chopped figs
½ cup chopped brazil nuts
½ cup orange juice
INSTRUCTIONS
Pre-heat the oven at 180 degrees celsius and line a square cake tin with baking paper. To start, soak the chia seeds in the ½ cup of water and set aside. In a separate bowl soak the prunes, apricots and figs in the ½ cup of orange juice. In a food processor place the almond meal and dried dates, process until finely ground down and combined. Add the other dry ingredients including the coconut flour, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, baking soda, orange zest and salt. Process together until combined. In a small bowl whisk the eggs, apple cider vinegar, olive oil and soaked chia seeds. Add the wet mixture to the dry mixture and blitz in the processor until combined. Finally add the fruit that has been soaking in the orange juice and the Brazil nuts. Mix gently to combine the nuts and fruit into the cake mixture. Scrape the mixture into the cake tin and place in the oven for 40 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean. Remove the loaf from the oven allow to cool down.
For more great recipes by Gold Coast local Caralee Caldwell, check out her page here.