Nut Free Pumpkin Fruitcake

Studded generously with dried mixed fruits, this nut-free, deliciously dense and rich pumpkin fruitcake is easily made well in advance, which saves you valuable time when entertaining, and perfect with your morning or afternoon cuppa too. For extra depth and flavour, soak dried fruits in the alcohol of your choice (Port, rum, brandy or whisky-based liqueur) a week prior to making the cake. If you don't want to bake this in a cake pan, try to divide the batter in 6 jumbo muffin cups and bake for 40-50 minutes. Test for doneness by placing a wooden skewer in center of muffin. If it comes out clean, it is done. Be careful not to over bake. The cake will keep in an airtight container for up to 1 week and much longer if you use alcohol.

250 g White spelt flour
12 g Baking powder
1/3 tsp Salt
250g Butter, softened
200 g Coconut sugar
2 Large eggs, room-temperature
1 tsp Vanilla paste
220 g Hokkaido pumpkin puree (butternut squash would work great too)
500 g Dried mixed fruit (I used a mix of ginger, apricot and cranberry)
60 ml 3.5% Milk, room-temperature

Grease a 22cm heart shaped or round spring-form pan thoroughly. Preheat the oven to 160C/320F.
Whisk together the spelt flour, baking powder and salt together.
Using an electric mixer, beat butter and coconut sugar until pale and creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition until well combined.
Add in vanilla paste, pumpkin puree and mixed fruits and stir until combined. Alternately fold in spelt flour mixture and milk until combined. The batter is rather thick.
Spoon the batter into prepared pan and smooth surface. Bake for 1½ hours or until a skewer inserted into centre comes out clean.
Cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn onto a wire rack to cool completely.