4 cups mixed dried fruit - figs, prunes, apricots, raisins - chopped (no need to chop raisins)
4 Medjool dates or 6-8 regular dates - pitted and chopped
1½ cups freshly squeezed Concord grape juice or other fruit juice - hot
1 teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
other spices such as ground cardamom, cloves and allspice - to taste (optional)
1 tablespoon vanilla extract (optional)
1¼ cup toasted almonds - ground
½ cup toasted hazelnuts - chopped
½ cup toasted pecans or walnuts - chopped
neutral coconut oil or other vegetable oil for oiling parchment paper
for the decoration (all optional)
cashews
pumpkin seeds
pistachios
pecans
dried apricots
dried lemon slices
dried cantaloupe
dried mango
Instructions
to make the cake
Preheat oven to 300° F (150° C).
Place 1½ cup of mixed dried fruit and all the dates into a medium bowl. Pour hot Concord grape/fruit juice over them, cover and let soak for 15 minutes. Place the remaining 2½ cups of dried fruit into a medium saucepan and set aside.
Drain the soaked fruit into a strainer, over the saucepan with the dried fruit, pouring the soaking juice into the saucepan. Bring contents of the saucepan to a boil over high heat, adjust the heat to a simmer and cook until most of the juice is absorbed, about 8-12 minutes.
Transfer the cooked fruit into a food processor, add spices and vanilla extract, if using, and blend until smooth. Transfer into a large bowl, add ground almonds and mix to combine. Stir in soaked fruit, chopped hazelnuts and pecans/walnuts, mixing well.
Line a 10" cake pan with well-oiled parchment paper and press the fruit-nut mixture into the pan, evening it out with a spoon. Optionally, decorate with nuts and dried fruit to your liking.
Bake for 1 hour, until firm. Let cool completely before slicing. The cake stores very well refrigerated in an air-tight container for up to 2 weeks.
Notes
1. In the absence of Concord grapes, any other grapes, oranges or apples can be used to make juice for this cake. 2. If you don't have a juicer for juicing grapes, blend them in a blender and strain through a fine mesh strainer to get rid of any seeds and skins.
Recipe by Golubka Kitchen at https://golubkakitchen.com/concord-grape-fruit-and-nut-cake/