Filled with brandy-soaked dried fruits and nuts, these dense and decadent, Boozy Christmas Cake Cupcakes are an adapted version of the Sri Lankan Christmas Cake of my youth.
*These Boozy Christmas Cupcakes were first published on December 19th, 2016. This post has been updated and is being re-published today, Monday the 16th of December.
When I was a young ‘un in Sri Lanka, I knew Christmas was right around the corner when my parents began our Christmas Cake.
My dad and mom would cover almost every table in our home with chopping boards as they hand-chopped a variety of dried fruits, candied fruits, fruit preserves, and nuts. Then my dad would find the biggest bowl he could and sit on one chair with the bowl perched on another chair in front of him.
Using a large wooden spoon, he would mix all these fruits and nuts with carefully measured out portions of brandy, jam, rose water, spices, vanilla and almond extracts, honey and golden syrup, that my mom would add in. They would then let this mix sit for days in a covered container.
When they finally got around to taking the lid off this container, the smell was intoxicatingly wonderfully heavenly (and those three words don’t quite do that joy-inducing aroma justice).
They then would mix those boozy fruits, nuts and spices with semolina, butter, sugar and what seemed like a gazillion eggs and bake this Christmas Cake for hours in a heavily lined baking tray or sometimes, trays.
To me, the resulting cake was (and is) an entity unto itself. I don’t think I’ve ever tasted anything quite like it.
My dad loved making and eating that Christmas Cake, so when he passed in the summer of 2014, that Christmas Cake was retired.
But, this year, in honor of him and the passion he brought to making and eating that Christmas cake, I made these Boozy Christmas Cake Cupcakes.
While traditional Sri Lankan Christmas Cake relies heavily on exotic ingredients like Sri Lankan Chow Chow (not to be confused with savory Chow Chow that’s available on grocery store shelves here in the US), and hard to find ingredients like pumpkin preserve and golden syrup, I figure I would make these cupcakes with ingredients I could pick up at my local grocery store.
I employed the same principle of soaking raisins, candied ginger, dates, fruit and peel mix, pecans, cardamom, cinnamon cloves, and nutmeg in jam, brandy, vanilla extract, molasses, maple syrup and rose water – and letting them sit and stew for about 4 days in a covered container.
And, when the time came for me to take that lid off, the resulting aroma took me on a ride down memory lane!
I also used spelt flour instead of semolina and almonds along with butter, brown sugar and eggs before baking. As these were cupcakes, I cut the baking time down from hours to minutes.
The resulting cupcakes were not as darkly colored as the Sri Lankan Christmas Cake of my youth, but, the flavor was so darn close.
They do not need any sort of frosting, though some people enjoy Sri Lankan Christmas cake with a layer of marzipan on top.
These cupcakes are sinfully dense, rich, moist, and decadent – aaaaaannnndddd you still have time to pull these off by Christmas Eve!!!
If you are looking to add some nutritious sides to your Christmas Dinner or Lunch Table, then please do check out these Ginger Carrots, this Cauliflower and Fig recipe and this Asparagus Egg Salad (the latter inspired by David Lebovitz )
My friends, thank you so much for stopping by my little space and commenting, and for trusting my recipes and giving them a try. I hope and pray each and every one of y’all a Very, Merry Christmas!
Looking to add some healthyish cookies to your dessert table or cookie exchange? Then this list is, for you:
45 Healthy-ISH Cookies For Christmas
Balance out the holiday season with these healthy-ish holiday cookies and treats!
Need a unique cookie recipe to add to your annual cookie exchange? These Easy Fruitcake Cookies are slightly chewy, butter-free, and packed with dried fruits and nuts!
Spiced with cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, and ginger, these gluten free, low carb / Keto Almond Cookies are a delicious treat for gifting, a cookie exchange, or simply to enjoy for an afternoon break.
Learn how to make these Hummingbird Breakfast Cookies with half of an overly ripe banana, pineapple, pecans, and spices. They are not overly sweet, they are gluten free, and they pack a powerful flavor punch!
Spiked with a tad bit of cinnamon, ginger, and cloves, these soft and chewy gluten free and butter free oatmeal cranberry cookies are so easy to make and so big on taste!
Need a unique cookie recipe to add to your annual cookie exchange? These Sri Lankan Christmas Cake Cookies are cake-like, boozy cookies that are gluten free, butter free, and decadently delicious!
Deliciously soft, these Gluten Free Peppermint Cookies are perfect for holiday gifting. Glancing at their ingredient list might have you and your family enjoying these for breakfast too!
Soft, gloriously thick and scrumptious, it’s so hard to stop at just one of these Gluten Free Cranberry Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies – they are a delicious yet healthyish treat your family and friends are sure to love.
These cardamom spiked, gluten free Oat Banana Chip Cookies are so easy to make and make for a delicious after-school or after-work snack!
Gooey in the middle and slightly crispy on the outside, these Chocolate Peppermint Cherry Cookies would be a lovely treat for your next holiday cookie party, or just because
Gently spiked with cloves and cardamom, these gluten-free Eggnog Cardamom Cookies are sure to delight your senses. Delightfully aromatic, slightly chewy and simply delicious, they would be a wonderful addition to your Christmas Cookie list!
These Chocolate Almond Tarts made with Ghirardelli chocolate are so easy to make and are decadently delicious. They are an amazing addition to any gathering, or whip them up and keep them all to yourself – like I do!
Melt in your mouth delicious - these little snowballs also happen to be vegan!
I like to think that these, 8-ingredient, blender-made, Chocolate Pretzel Bars are “healthy” as they are sweetened with dates and contain coconut oil instead of butter – and are ridiculously easy to whip up!
Delicious, energizing and gluten free Almond & Pecan BiteS
These here are proof that cookies can be tasty and good fo ya! Packed with flax meal and oats, these Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookies also happen to be gluten-free and butter-free!
This recipe is for a small batch of Eggless Praline Pecan Cranberry Cookies. These cookies are delicious and so easy to make. In fact, you do not need an electric mixer nor do you need to chill the dough. Just mix, bake, and enjoy!
Loaded with candied ginger and powdered ginger, these gluten-free Ginger Pecan Cookies are a cinch to whip up and can be made ahead and stored until you need to whip these up for Christmas cookie exchange parties and holiday get-togethers!
Take a break during this busy holiday season with these soft and gluten-free, Ginger Molasses Cookies. They are irresistible with a warm cup of coffee or tea - unless you gift them all away this holiday season.
These Gluten free, dairy free, cookies are filled with cinnamon, dried apple chips and vanilla - they not only smell delicious but taste heavenly - and - without the icing, they can even be breakfast!
Spiked with a smidge of cinnamon, these gluten free Orange Chocolate Chip Cookies are an explosion of flavor. They are ever so slightly crispy on the outside and nicely soft and gooey on the inside and perfect for a twist on the traditional chocolate chip to offer up at your next cookie exchange!
Pistachio & Ruby chocolate unite in delicious harmony in these gluten-free, no-bake, Pistachio Cookies with Ruby Chocolate. Made with only 7 ingredients, these no-bake cookies are high on the nutrition scale as well!
These soft and chewy Candied Ginger Oatmeal Cookies are delightfully delicious. Their white chocolate drizzle balances off the bits of candied ginger in them, and, they just happen to be gluten-free!
Made with just 10 ingredients, these gluten-free Mocha Breakfast Cookies are delicious and nutritious! They are great for breakfast or as a snack when you need a pick-me-up!
This little Chocolate and Cookie Butter bake only requires 5 ingredients, but is just so mind-blowingly tasty! Definitely worth a try!
You know you wanna slice of this scrumptious, gluten-free, Walnut Coconut Cookie Cake topped with chocolate, berries, pomegranate arils, and coconut whipped cream!
When you are craving something sweet and crunchy, it sure helps to have some of these 6-ingredient No-Bake Cereal Cookies on hand. They are a tasty, versatile, and easy treat to make and enjoy with your family.
Made with just twelve ingredients, these Easy Eggless Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies are a delicious way to chase away that afternoon slump and sure to be a favorite eggless cookie recipe with you and your famiy.
This 3 Ingredient Chocolate Mousse is an easy, quick, decadent treat to whip up when that chocolate craving hits. This delightfully creamy treat is made without any eggs or heavy cream and does not require any cooking.
Need a quick and easy breakfast you can munch on in traffic? Or, how about a filling and delicious snack to tide you over till dinner time? Well, that's where these little five-ingredient, gluten-free, protein-packed, bites come in handy!
Beets and Oats make these cookies basically like a bowl of oats in cookie form - right? Or many that's just me trying to justify my intake of these Triple Chocolate Cookies!
The ingredient list might be long on these cookies, but they are not only delicious, they are also breakfast worthy with a good dose of lignans, fiber and protein and with a variety of M&M’s® thrown in - they are just plain fun to snack or breakfast on!
These Almond Flour Peanut Butter Cookies are my tasty, gluten-free, eggless, spin on traditional peanut butter cookies. These melt-in-your-mouth cookies are made with 6 main ingredients and are ready to enjoy in 30 minutes. Serve them dipped in chocolate for a truly indulgent cookie.
Moist, light, and studded with white chocolate chips, these decadent Beet Bars are gluten free and can be enjoyed as a breakfast treat or a snack or a dessert.
These easy no bake peanut butter balls are a holiday staple in our home. Crunchy, sweet, peanut buttery, and made with only 7 pantry-staple ingredients!
Spiced with cardamom, cinnamon, and ginger, this gluten-free, refined sugar-free, easy pink cookie recipe results in a batch of delicious, aromatic, and healthy cookies that are free of any artificial food coloring.
Three ingredients and about 10 minutes are all you need to make these Date Energy Balls. These no-bake plant-based treats are gluten-free and refined sugar-free, and the perfect midday pick-me-up.
Flavored with a hint of cardamom and cinnamon, these tender and buttery, vegan spritz cookies are melt-in-your-mouth delicious!
Boozy Christmas Cake Cupcakes
Rich, dense and simply decadent, these Boozy Christmas Cupcakes are made with brandy, rose water and molasses soaked fruits, nuts, and spices - and are an exquisite treat to add to your Christmas dessert table!
Ingredients
For the boozy fruit/nut mix:
- 2/3 cup Strawberry jam
- 1/2 cup fruit and peel mix
- 1/4 cup candied ginger
- 12 medjool dates pitted, leave whole
- 2/3 cup raisins
- 2/3 cup pecans
- 1/4 teaspoon cardamom
- 1/8 teaspoon cloves
- 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 3 teaspoons rose water
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons molasses
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
- 1/3 cup brandy
For the batter:
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar
- 3/4 cup Spelt flour
- 1 stick butter, softened
- 3 eggs
Instructions
For the boozy fruit/nut mix:
- Add the Strawberry jam, fruit and peel mix, candied ginger, medjool dates, raisins, pecans, cardamom, cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, rose water, vanilla extract, molasses, maple syrup and brandy to a container, mix till well blended. Cover and keep in a cool dry place for 3-4 days.
For the Boozy Cupcakes:
- Then, on the 4th day -
- Preheat oven to 300 degrees
- Then place the boozy fruit/nut/spice mix in a food processer (this way you don't have to hand chop everything before) and pulse a few times.
- Then add in the light brown sugar, Spelt flour, butter and eggs into the food processor and pulse till well blended.
- Spoon mix into lined cupcake tray and bake for 45-50 minutes - check with a toothpick to make sure cupcakes are not sticking to it and are done.
- Let cool completely and enjoy.
- *The longer these sit, the better they seem to taste.
Nutrition Information
Yield 14 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 331Total Fat 11gSaturated Fat 5gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 6gCholesterol 57mgSodium 78mgCarbohydrates 54gNet Carbohydrates 0gFiber 3gSugar 41gSugar Alcohols 0gProtein 4g
These Boozy Christmas Cupcakes were also featured in Sri Lanka’s Sunday Times ~ You can read the article here.
I’d love to know if you happen to make this recipe (or any other on here) so pretty please tag me @SavorySpin and #SavorySpin on Instagram, Twitter &/or Facebook. And, if you haven’t yet, then please make sure to subscribe to my email list to have all sorts of eats, treats and delightful ramblings delivered right to your inbox!
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