Authentic Kerala Plum Cake Recipe UK: Bake or Buy the Perfect Indian Christmas Treat 🎂

abey varghese
Dec 8
3 min read

The Taste of Kerala Christmas, Delivered to Your UK Door

For many, the scent of a Kerala Plum Cake signals the start of the festive season. This iconic Indian treat, rich with dark, soaked fruits and a signature blend of warm spices, is a cherished part of Christmas and New Year celebrations. If you're searching to buy authentic Indian plum cake online in the UK or keen to bake a genuine version, you've landed in the right place.

At Malabar Mart, we celebrate this tradition by offering two incredible options: our traditional, Kerala-sourced Plum Cake and a specially formulated UK-baked version.

This comprehensive guide will help you:

Source the best ingredients in the UK for a perfect Kerala Plum Cake.
Master our authentic Kerala Plum Cake Recipe, adapted for UK kitchens.
Understand the key differences between the Kerala and UK styles.
Discover why Malabar Mart is your trusted source for premium Indian festive cakes.

Understanding Kerala Plum Cake: More Than Just a Fruitcake

Kerala Plum Cake stands apart from typical Western fruitcakes. Its unique profile is defined by:

Dark Caramel Hue: Traditionally achieved by melting sugar into a dark, rich caramel, not just brown sugar.
The Spice Symphony: A powerful blend where cardamom, mace, cinnamon, and cloves dominate, offering a distinctly Indian aroma.
Texture: Often moister and softer than a dense, long-aged British Christmas cake.

Key Authentic Ingredients (and Where to Source Them in the UK)

Ingredient	Role in Authenticity	UK Sourcing Tip
Dried Fruits	Raisins, Currants, Candied Peel	Standard UK supermarkets. Add chopped dates for Kerala texture.
Spices	Cardamom, Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Clove	Essential for the "Kerala" flavour. Buy whole spices and grind freshly for maximum aroma.
Rum/Brandy (For soaking Only)	Deepens flavour and preserves moisture.	Use any good quality Dark Rum or Brandy available locally.
Nuts	Cashew Nuts & Almonds	Highly visible and defining nuts. Malabar Mart stocks high-quality Indian cashews.

Malabar Recipe: Kerala Plum Cake Adapted for UK Kitchens

Follow this simple, step-by-step recipe to recreate that authentic flavour using easily accessible ingredients.

Ingredients

250g Mixed Dried Fruits (soaked in 100ml Dark Rum/Brandy for $\ge$ 24 hours)
150g Unsalted Butter, softened
150g Dark Brown or Muscovado Sugar
3 Large Eggs
200g All-Purpose Flour (Maida)
1 tsp Baking Powder
1 tsp Ground Cinnamon
½ tsp Ground Cloves
½ tsp Ground Cardamom (Crucial!)
¼ tsp Ground Nutmeg/Mace
100g Chopped Nuts (Cashews/Almonds)
Zest of one Orange
Pinch of Salt

Instructions

Prep: Preheat oven to $160^\circ\text{C}$ ($320^\circ\text{F}$). Line a 20cm round tin.
Cream: Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Gradually add eggs.
Sift & Fold: Sift together flour, baking powder, spices, and salt. Gently fold into the wet mixture. (Avoid overmixing!)
Fruits & Nuts: Drain soaked fruits (reserve liquid). Fold fruits, nuts, and orange zest into the batter.
Bake: Pour batter into the tin and bake for $60\text{--}70$ minutes, or until a skewer is clean.
Moisture Tip: While warm, brush the cake with the reserved rum/brandy for enhanced moisture and flavour.

Bake vs. Buy: Malabar Mart’s Dual Plum Cake Offering

Why do we offer both a Kerala-Sourced and a UK-Baked Plum Cake?

Feature	Kerala-Sourced Plum Cake (The Classic)	UK-Baked Plum Cake (The Local Twist)
Defining Trait	Authentic Caramel Flavour & Spice Blend	Firmer texture, often with a hint of local fruit mix.
Best For	Customers wanting the exact taste of home and Kerala tradition.	Customers seeking high-quality baking with familiar UK convenience/texture.
Why We Sell It	Our mission is to bring genuine regional flavours directly from India.	To provide a fresh, quality option that blends Indian flavour profiles with a reliable UK bakery standard.
Expert Tip	Serve with a steaming cup of strong Malabar Chai.	Excellent for gifting due to consistent local quality and packaging.

Malabar Mart Customer Spotlight: Plum Cake Memories

Case Study: Mrs. L. Kumar from Birmingham shared that our Kerala Plum Cake "instantly transported her back to her family Christmas in Kottayam." She appreciated that the spices were not muted and the texture was perfectly moist.

We pride ourselves on providing not just a cake, but a connection to memory and culture.

Tips for the Perfect Plum Cake Every Time

Fresh Spices: This is the most important step! Buy your spices whole from Malabar Mart and grind them just before baking.
Soak Longer: For the deepest flavour, soak your fruits for weeks, not days. Store them in an airtight jar.
Storage & Aging: Wrap the cooled cake tightly in parchment paper and then foil. Store in an airtight container. The flavour will deepen significantly over the next few days.

Ready to Taste the Tradition?

Whether you choose the satisfaction of baking your own Authentic Kerala Plum Cake or the convenience of buying our premium, ready-to-eat versions, Malabar Mart is your go-to source.

Click here to shop our Plum Cake selection and authentic spices!