Food & Cooking Recipes Dessert & Treats Recipes Cake Recipes Tea-Spiced Fruitcake 5.0 (3) Add your rating & review By Martha Stewart Test Kitchen Martha Stewart Test Kitchen The recipes developed by our test kitchen team have undergone a rigorous process of development and testing, ensuring that every element is optimal, from ingredient amounts to method and cooking time. This process includes triple-testing recipes to ensure they meet our high standards. The many stellar cooks and food editors who have been part of our team include Sarah Carey, Lucinda Scala Quinn, Jennifer Aaronson, Shira Bocar, Anna Kovel, Greg Lofts, Riley Wofford, Lauren Tyrell, and Lindsay Leopold. Editorial Guidelines Updated on January 16, 2019 Print Rate It Share Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Anna Williams Prep Time: 40 mins Total Time: 4 hrs 15 mins Yield: 1 8-inch square cake The cake can be served right away or allowed to age, from three days to six weeks: Wrap the cake in cheesecloth, keep it at room temperature, and pour 2 to 3 tablespoons of rum over the top every few days, or once a week if storing longer. Ingredients 1 cup golden raisins 1 cup dried apricots, cut into ¼-inch pieces ½ cup dried candied ginger, cut into ¼-inch pieces ½ cup Candied Kumquats for Candied Kumquat Tartlets in syrup, cut into ¼-inch pieces 4 whole star-anise pods 1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise, seeds scraped and reserved ½ cup water 1 tablespoon loose-leaf black tea, preferably Bellocq Christmas 1 cup packed light-brown sugar Grated zest of 1 lemon, plus 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice 1 cup raw pistachios, toasted and chopped 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour ¾ teaspoon baking powder ½ teaspoon coarse salt 1 teaspoon ground ginger 1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg 1 teaspoon ground cardamon ¼ teaspoon ground fennel seed 2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for pan 4 large eggs, room temperature 2 tablespoons orange marmalade, plus more for garnish (optional) 3 tablespoons golden rum ½ cup confectioners' sugar Directions Combine raisins, apricots, ginger, kumquats, star-anise pods, and vanilla-bean pod in a medium bowl. Bring water to boil in a small saucepan over high heat. Remove from heat, add tea, and cover; let steep 6 to 8 minutes. Strain brewed tea into bowl with fruit; let stand at room temperature at least 1 hour or up to overnight (the fruit will soften and absorb the liquid). Remove and discard star anise and vanilla pods. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine brown sugar, zest, and vanilla-bean seeds in a small bowl. Use your fingers to mix ingredients until well blended. In another bowl, lightly whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, ginger, nutmeg, cardamom, and fennel seed. Butter an 8-inch square baking pan and line with parchment; butter parchment. With mixer on medium-high speed, beat butter and brown-sugar mixture until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in eggs, one at a time, until incorporated. Add flour mixture and beat on medium-low speed until just combined. Add dried fruit mixture, pistachios, and marmalade; beat until just combined. Transfer batter to prepared pan. Bake 15 minutes, then reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees and continue baking until cake is golden brown and a tester inserted in center comes out clean, 45 to 60 minutes. Using a toothpick or skewer, poke holes in top of cake; pour rum over cake. Let cool completely in pan. In a small bowl, stir together confectioners' sugar and lemon juice until smooth. Drizzle icing over cake. Garnish with thin slices of fruit from additional marmalade. Rate it Print