This gluten-free, vegan Paleo fruit cake recipe is a delicious addition to a Christmas menu. It’s the perfect dessert for holiday parties and potlucks, yet it’s nutritious enough to eat for breakfast or as a snack during the holiday season or year round. Give this a try if you’re looking for Paleo desserts, like these soft and chewy Paleo chocolate cookies, which are another yummy option.
Ingredients and Substitutions
I opted to avoid using the traditional candied fruit you often find in fruit cake since that stuff usually contains plenty of refined sugar added to the fruit. And while those neon red cherries and little bits of brightly colored fruit do look festive, I’m not wild about the artificial colors that give those candied fruits their vibrant hues.
Instead, I went with sultana raisins and some chopped up dates in this gluten-free Christmas cake, but you can substitute any variety of dried fruit you prefer. Dried apricots, currants, figs, or dried cherries (especially if you can find dried cherries with no added sugar) would all be good substitutes.
This nutritious cake is made with coconut flour, so it’s grain free in addition to being both gluten free and dairy free.
This cake is sweetened with maple syrup, but you can substitute agave if you prefer.
This cake is spiced just right with a little nutmeg and cloves plus plenty of cinnamon and orange zest to give it a warm, Christmassy flavor that’s perfect for the holiday season.
How to Make Paleo Fruit Cake
Start by preheating the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Next you’ll add the coconut flour, ground flaxseed, and baking powder to a mixing bowl, then mix well.
Add the maple syrup, unsweetened applesauce, almond butter, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and orange zest to a second mixing bowl, then use a whisk to mix well. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, then use a spoon to mix to combine.
Add the raisins and chopped dates (or any other dried fruit you prefer) and use a spoon to mix to combine. Transfer the batter into a medium sized loaf pan lined with parchment paper, then use the back of a spoon to smooth the batter into an even layer. Sprinkle the pecans on top.
Bake the cake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 50 minutes or until the cake is golden and cooked through. Be sure to let the cake cool to room temperature before serving.
Gifting this Cake
This cake is the perfect homemade Christmas gift or host gift. Place the loaf in a cellophane bag, then tie it closed with a pretty ribbon and gift tag.
Paleo Fruit Cake Recipe
Equipment
- Medium sized loaf pan
- Parchment paper
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups unsweetened applesauce
- 1 cup coconut flour
- 1/2 cup maple syrup
- 1/2 cup pecans
- 1/2 cup creamy almond butter
- 1/3 cup raisins
- 1/3 cup chopped dates (or substitute any combination of dried cherries, dried apricots, or dried currants)
- 1/4 cup ground flaxseed
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon cloves
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Add the coconut flour, ground flaxseed, and baking powder to a mixing bowl, then mix well.
- Add the maple syrup, unsweetened applesauce, almond butter, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and orange zest to a second mixing bowl, then use a whisk to mix well.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, then use a spoon to mix to combine.
- Add the raisins and chopped dates (or any other dried fruit you prefer) and use a spoon to mix to combine.
- Transfer the batter into a medium sized loaf pan lined with parchment paper, then use the back of a spoon to smooth the batter into an even layer.
- Sprinkle the pecans on top.
- Bake the cake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake looks clean upon removal.
- Let the cake cool to room temperature before serving.
Notes
- Store this cake in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days or freeze it for up to three months.
Nutrition
More Christmas Recipes to Try
- These savory stuffed dates have the perfect balance of delicious flavors.
- This moist and flavorful gluten-free gingerbread cake is spiced just right.
Your recipe sounds great. Could I substitute honey for maple syrup and hazelnut butter for the almond butter without affecting the taste too much?
I haven’t tried those substitutes so I’m not 100% sure, but I think that should work well!