Ingredients
- 1 cup whole milk heated to 110 degrees F (no higher)
- 1 tablespoon dry yeast
- 1 cup mixed dried fruit such as raisins, dates or cherries (all raisins would be fine)
- 3 tablespoons dark rum
- 1 tablespoon orange blossom water, or 1 teaspoon of Flori Di Sicilia, or ½ teaspoon orange extract plus ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¾ cup brown sugar, packed
- 8 tablespoons butter softened, 1 stick
- 2 whole eggs
- 3 ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon allspice
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon coriander
- 1 cup walnuts, chopped
- Butter and flour to prepare pan
- 3 tablespoons butter melted
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
Instructions
- Mix the yeast with the heated milk and set aside.
- Mix the dried fruit with the rum and orange blossom water and set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, beat butter and brown sugar for two minutes on medium speed.
- Add eggs and beat for two more minutes.
- Drain liquid from dried fruit and add liquid to sugar and egg mixture. Mix to combine. Save the fruit for a later step.
- Sift flour into a bowl with the salt, allspice, cinnamon and coriander.
- Transfer to a stand mixer from a paddle to a dough hook.
- Alternate adding flour-spice mixture and milk mixture to form a very sticky dough. Beat only long enough to bring the dough together. The mixture will be loose looking.
- Pour dough into a large bowl, cover with a dish towel and let rise in a warm draft free place for about two hours or until doubled in size.
- While the dough is rising, liberally butter and flour a 10” Bundt pan.
- Pour nuts and dried fruit into the dough and mix by hand just until mixed through.
- Scrape the mixture into the prepared pan.
- Cover with a dish towel and let rise until almost doubled in size, about an additional hour.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Bake in the center of the oven for about 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Remove from oven and brush with the melted butter then sprinkle on the granulated sugar. Serve warm out of the oven, or sliced and toasted with butter.
