Dense Winter Fruit & Nut Cake: 9 Cozy Reasons This Old-Fashioned Bake Is Pure Comfort

This Dense Winter Fruit & Nut Cake is everything I love about cold-weather baking — rich, spiced, fragrant with citrus zest, and absolutely packed with fruit and nuts. It’s the kind of cake that feels like it belongs wrapped in parchment, shared slowly, and sliced again the next day (because somehow it’s even better).

Made with simple pantry ingredients and warming spices, this cake is sturdy yet moist, deeply flavorful, and perfect for the winter season. Whether you serve it for breakfast with coffee, as an afternoon treat, or dressed up for dessert, it never disappoints.

If you love timeless, cozy bakes like this, be sure to subscribe by email — these are my favorite recipes to share

Overview of Recipe Content

What Is a Dense Winter Fruit & Nut Cake?

This is a rustic, old-fashioned cake loaded with dried fruits, mixed nuts, citrus zest, and spices. It’s less about lift and more about richness, texture, and depth of flavor.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Rich, dense, and moist texture
• Packed with fruit and nuts
• Warmly spiced for winter
• Keeps well for days
• Perfect with tea or coffee
• Great for gifting

What Does It Taste Like?

Deeply spiced, lightly sweet, nutty, and fragrant with orange and lemon zest — every bite feels cozy and satisfying.

Ingredients

PIN IT

Cake Batter

• 200 g mixed dried fruits (raisins, apricots, cranberries)
• 100 g mixed nuts (walnuts, almonds, pecans), roughly chopped
• 200 g all-purpose flour
• 150 g brown sugar
• 100 g unsalted butter, softened
• 3 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ½ teaspoon ground ginger
• ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 100 ml milk
• Zest of 1 orange
• Zest of 1 lemon
• 1 tablespoon honey (optional)

Tools Needed

• Mixing bowls
• Hand or stand mixer
• Loaf pan or round cake pan
• Parchment paper

How to Make Dense Winter Fruit & Nut Cake

PIN IT

Step 1: Prep

Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C). Line your cake pan with parchment paper.

Step 2: Cream Butter & Sugar

Beat butter and brown sugar until soft and creamy.

Step 3: Add Eggs

Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each.

Step 4: Mix Dry Ingredients

In a bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, spices, and salt.

Step 5: Combine

Add dry ingredients to batter alternately with milk. Stir in citrus zest and honey if using.

Step 6: Fold in Fruit & Nuts

Gently fold in dried fruits and chopped nuts until evenly distributed.

Step 7: Bake

Pour batter into pan and bake 70–80 minutes, until a skewer comes out clean.

Step 8: Cool

Cool completely before slicing — the texture improves as it rests.

What to Serve with Winter Fruit & Nut Cake

• Hot tea or spiced chai
• Strong coffee or espresso
• Lightly whipped cream

Pair it with:

• Easy Caramel Flan
  https://poulef.com/easy-caramel-flan/
• Grandma’s Old-Fashioned Gingerbread Cake
  https://poulef.com/old-fashioned-gingerbread-cake/

Pinterest inspiration: https://www.pinterest.com/poulefrecipe/

Tips for Making It Perfect

• Chop fruit and nuts evenly
• Don’t overmix once flour is added
• Tent loosely with foil if browning too fast
• Let cake rest overnight for best flavor

Storage Instructions

• Store wrapped at room temperature up to 4 days
• Refrigerate up to 1 week
• Freeze slices up to 2 months

General Information

Dense fruit and nut cakes have long been a winter staple across Europe, designed to last, travel well, and taste better with time. This version stays true to that tradition while keeping ingredients simple and accessible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this cake very sweet?

No — gently sweet with deep spice flavor.

Can I change the fruits?

Absolutely — dates, figs, or cherries work well.

Does it freeze well?

Yes, beautifully.

Why is my cake dense?

That’s the goal — it’s meant to be rich and hearty.

Conclusion

This Dense Winter Fruit & Nut Cake is the definition of cozy baking — rich, spiced, citrus-kissed, and made to be shared slowly. It’s a cake with history, heart, and serious staying power.

If you loved this, try my Old-Fashioned Gingerbread Cake or Easy Caramel Flan next for more timeless comfort.

Interactive Elements

Leave a review below
Share your slices on Pinterest or tag me — winter bakes deserve their moment

Nutritional Information (Per Slice – Approximate)

Nutrient	Amount
Calories	320
Fat	14g
Carbs	42g
Sugar	24g
Protein	6g
Fiber	3g
Sodium	180mg

Print