German Fruit Bread​ (Früchtebrot)

This German fruit bread has the perfect balance between mild sweetness and an amazingly rich flavor. It’s bursting with dried fruit, infused with rum, for an extra festive touch.  Hazelnuts and almonds give it a nice crunch and a hint of a nutty taste. Stored in an airtight container or covered with a cloche it stays fresh for weeks.

German Fruit Bread​ (Früchtebrot)

Recipe by Anna BembryCourse: Desserts, Sweet breadsDifficulty: simple
Servings

4

servings
Prep time

30

minutes
Baking time

55

minutes
Soakingovernight

Ingredients

  • 125 g / 4.4 oz pitted, dried prunes

  • 125 g / 4.4 oz pitted, dried dates

  • 125 g / 4.4 oz dried figs

  • 50 g / 1.8 oz soft, dried apricots

  • 100 g / 1.8 oz dried apple rings

  • 125 g / 4.4 oz raisins

  • 125 g / 4.4 oz candied lemon peel

  • 125 g / 4.4 oz candied orange peel

  • 50 ml / 1.7 fl oz Jamaica rum

  • 1 vanilla bean

  • 3 eggs

  • 125 g / 4.4 oz sugar

  • 150 g /5.3 oz plain, all purpose flour

  • 4 teaspoons baking powder

  • 125 g / 4.4 whole hazelnuts

  • 125 g / 4.4 oz whole almonds

Method

  • Cut the dried fruit into smaller pieces and place in a mixing bowl. Add raisins, lemon and orange peel, pour in rum and stir well to combine. Cover with a lid and set aside overnight to infuse.
  • Next day: adjust the oven rack to a middle position and preheat the oven to 180C / 355F. Butter a 9-inch (25 cm) loaf pan and dust it with flour. Slit the vanilla bean lengthwise and scrape out the pulp. Beat the eggs with sugar and the scraped out vanilla pulp until light and fluffy. Combine flour with baking powder, sieve onto the egg mixture, and fold in gently. Finally, fold in the rum-infused fruit, hazelnuts, and almonds.
  • Transfer the mixture into the prepared baking pan and bake for 55 – 60 minutes. Remove from oven and let rest in the baking pan for 10 minutes, then remove from pan and let cool down completely on a cooling rack. Serve in thick slices.

Notes

  • You can substitute the candied lemon and orange peel with Old English fruit and peel mix. Your fruit bread will be just as delicious.

1 Comment

  1. Looks delicious Anna. Now to find the time to assemble the ingredients and actuallly bake one. I’m sure it taste scrumptious! Bet you had loads of help making it, too.

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