During the holidays I’m always looking for yummy treats to eat that won’t leave me with a high-carb hangover. This paleo dessert recipe for a moist, gluten free fruitcake fits the bill. Sweetened with one tablespoon of coconut sugar, along with dates, raisins and dried cherries, my Paleo version of this classic treat is great with a cup of tea, Dandelion Root Coffee, or makes a beautifully simple gift to give to friends and neighbors during the holidays.
According to Wikipedia, fruitcake is:
A cake made with chopped candied fruit and/or dried fruit, nuts, and spices, and (optionally) soaked in spirits. A cake that simply has fruit in it as an ingredient can also be colloquially called a fruitcake. In the United Kingdom, certain rich versions may be iced and decorated. Fruitcakes are often served in celebration of weddings and Christmas.
Along with visions of wacky people, the word “fruitcake” can also conjure thoughts of dry, icky cake. I think you’ll be pleased to find that this easy Paleo recipe is rich and moist –a Christmas Cake recipe that is versatile enough to use all year round.
Paleo Fruitcake
Ingredients
- 1½ cups blanched almond flour (not almond meal)
- ½ teaspoon celtic sea salt
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ cup dates (remove pits) and chopped
- ½ cup raisins
- ½ cup dried cherries
- 1 cup walnuts, chopped
- 4 large eggs
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
- 1 tablespoon coconut sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine almond flour, salt and baking soda
- Stir in dried fruit and nuts
- In a medium bowl, combine eggs, oil, coconut sugar, vanilla and citrus zest
- Stir wet ingredients into dry
- Scoop batter into 2 greased mini loaf pans
- Bake fruitcakes at 350°F for 20-30 minutes
- Cool and serve
I think this might be my first Paleo cake recipe. I could be wrong though. What Paleo grain-free, dairy-free desserts will you be serving this holiday season?
Veronica says
This is a wonderful recipe … I’ve made it so many times and I never get sick of it … it’s always a special treat. Thank you so much.
IntoWellness says
Hi Elana/GlutenFree Followers,
I love love this paleo fruit bread. I have made so many times since Dec-2011 that I know recipe even in my sleep :-) Can you please tell me if it is bad for health to eat this bread loaf 2 times per week?
I am following SCD diet, so this is my guilty pleasure for breakfast and snack. I read that almond has 1800:1 for omega-6 to omega-3 ratio but ideally the ratio supposed to be 1:1 for good health. Am I eating too much omega-6? I also read on paleohack.com site that people are not supposed to back with almond as it gets rancid with high heat. Gals please help.
Thanks a lot.
Fiona R says
Made the fruit cake yesterday and had to stop myself from eating the shoe loaf. It was so yummy and my husband liked it as well.
Victoria says
Delicious! I substituted a few things: carob chips for dried cherries, chia + water for eggs and 1 tsp of agave syrup for coconut palm sugar. Baked them on mini cupcake dish and they came out great! Thanks so much for this recipe!
Vicki Bradley says
I made the Paleo Fruitcake in December and it was superb. Because of my allergies, I substituted the flour as follows-3/4 c Hazelnut flour, 1/4 c White rice flour, 1/4 c Brown rice flour and 1/4 c Tapioca flour. I used dried organic cranberries, figs, and apricots in place of the cherries. And I added pecans as well as walnuts. It cooked to perfection. The best tasting flavor and lovely texture. Thank you for helping me bake again. Though I can not eat almonds, all your recipes have worked out making a few changes. Namaste and happy New Year.
Kathy L. says
Oh my gosh – this was SO good!! I made up four of them for two New Year’s weekend parties and they were a HUGE hit. I had to share the recipe with many. And I’m getting ready to make some more just for me :-). Awesome recipe.
IntoWellness says
Is this considered SCD legal?
Veronica says
I’ve made this wonderful recipe a couple of times … used butter instead of coconut oil and different kinds of fruit … it always comes out great. Thanks so much.
Sarah @ The Healthy Diva says
Yumm this looks sooo good. My dad is a huge fan of fruit and nut bread, so we always have some in the house. Sad thing is that it’s not GF. Will definitely be making this so we can all enjoy it as a family. Thank you :)
Brenda Gaines says
I’ve read that oil which, peaked in 1970, is near depletion, maybe 5 more years at present usage. So Paleo style eating will be ‘in’ when the trucks can’t stock the shelves of the local store, and food from our gardens and fruit and nut trees, honey from our bee boxes, maple syrup tapped from our tree, eggs from our hens, wild or domestic animals that we kill and butcher ourselves will be the only food available. I put the book on women hunters on my wish list, and the Paleo diet book you recommended, but since I have blood type ‘O’, the caveman’s blood type, I am already trying to eat paleo style.
I just ordered some Jerusalem artichoke flour and sweet potato flour, I’ve also been using flax seed meal, tapioca flour and other non-grain flours and nut meals. I enjoy your food blog very much…. I used half chestnut flour and half almond flour in your chocolate chip scones recipe (from your Almond Flour cookbook) and added dried cherries and a big spoon of honey instead of agave syrup, mmmmmm.