No added sugar fruit cake is packed with sweet, juicy dried fruits, so you really won't notice that the cake mixture is sugar-free. This low sugar fruit cake is moist and delicious, and it's much healthier.
This sugar free fruit cake is my go-to cake recipe which I've been making for many years. Like a traditional fruit cake recipe, it'll store well for a few days. It also travels well (I know from experience it makes a perfect high energy snack for swimming galas!)
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What you'll love about the recipe
- A delicious moist low sugar fruit cake perfect for celebrations and everyday treats
- Naturally sweetened with dried fruit. This healthy fruit cake has no sugar and no other sweetener in the cake batter
- Make a gluten free sugar free cake if you prefer
- Quick and easy to make
Ingredients
Dried fruit. I often use a standard supermarket bag of mixed dried fruit, but if you prefer to can make up a mix yourself with sultanas, raisins, currants etc. You also use other dried fruits such as chopped prunes, dates, figs and dried apricots.
Orange (or use 2 clementines). Orange zest adds flavour, and the juice adds moisture to the cake.
Ground cinnamon and allspice. You could also use other ground spices such as cardamom and cloves. Or just use mixed ground spice if that is what you have.
Plain flour. I've also made the recipe replacing half of the flour with wholemeal flour instead of white flour. It was nice, but slightly drier so for a Christmas or celebration cake I'd prefer to use white flour.
I also often make this as a gluten free sugar free fruit cake with a supermarket gluten free plain flour blend, and that works perfectly.
There is baking powder in the recipe, although the cake won't rise by a huge amount.
Butter. I use unsalted butter to make the cake. If you'd prefer, you can make a no fat no sugar fruit cake.
Eggs provide structure, and you'll also need a splash of milk.
Optional ingredients
If you are making a sugar free Christmas fruit cake, you could add a festive twist by soaking the fruit in brandy rather than orange juice. I have also used rooibos tea and that adds a lovely rich flavour.
If you like nuts in your fruit cake, feel free to add those in. Around 50g of your favourite chopped nuts would be good, and almonds work very well.
You can also add glace cherries, but they will add extra sugar.
How to make low sugar fruit cake
Boiling the fruit is the secret to a super moist healthy fruit cake. It just takes a few minutes, but makes a big difference. The dried fruit will be extra juicy.
Juice the orange and make up to 100 ml with water. Add to a pan along with the orange zest, the dried fruit and spices. Bring up to the boil, simmer for 5 minutes and leave to cool.
Grease and line the base and sides of a 1lb (450 g) loaf tin. Preheat the oven to 160 degrees (140 fan).
Crack the eggs into a large bowl and whisk. You can either use an electric hand mixer or a hand whisk. (Don't use a food processor with a chopping blade, otherwise the dried fruit will become chopped.) Add the softened butter, flour, baking powder and milk and mix well until smooth.
Add the dried fruit and mix well.
Tip into the prepared tin and bake for an hour.
Keep an eye on the cake to make sure that the top doesn't start to go too dark. If necessary, cover the top with a sheet of foil.
Once the cake is cool enough to handle, remove from the tin and cool on a wire rack.
Sugar free Christmas cake
For an easy sugar-free Christmas fruit cake, I make double the quantity of mixture and cook the cake in a 23 cm loose-bottomed round tin. (Or you could use a 2lb/900 g loaf tin if you prefer). Extend the cooking time by half an hour.
I don't ice the cake as I think it detracts from the rich fruit flavour (as well as adding heaps of sugar!). However, there are still plenty of options to decorate a healthy Christmas fruit cake. I like to use dried fruit and nuts arranged in a pattern.
To get a shiny top to your healthy Christmas cake, melt a little sugar free apricot jam or honey with a teaspoon of water and brush onto the top.
If you want to add marzipan to the cake, use this sugar free marzipan recipe. You could also use it to mould Christmas decorations for your cake. And of course, a bright ribbon around the outside gives a festive touch.
If you are baking over the festive period, you might also like this sugar free ginger cake which is naturally sweetened with dates and apples. Or browse this round-up of sugar-free Christmas treats.
You could also use this recipe to make a sugar free Easter Simnel cake. For a traditional look, decorate with 11 almond and honey marzipan balls.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can make a cake without adding table sugar. In the case of this sugar free fruit cake, there's no added sugar as the dried fruit is naturally very sweet. You can also use other fruits and even vegetables to sweeten a cake instead of adding sugar. I prefer not to use artificial sweeteners, so if I do need to add a little sweetness to a cake recipe, I'd rather use honey. Follow a recipe which has been specifically developed to be baked without sugar. There's plenty of ideas in this healthy cakes category.
This fruit cake is a healthier choice than many other recipes. However, even though it is made without added sugar, it's still something to be enjoyed in moderation. Dried fruit is naturally high in sugar, and there's also butter in the cake.
This sugar free fruit cake has 319 calories for a generous slice. If you want a lower calorie fruit cake, try this fat free fruit cake which is made using applesauce instead of butter.
You can store this cake in an airtight container for up to a week. Unlike a conventional fruit cake, it cannot be stored for months. That's because the sugar in a conventional recipe acts as a preservative. If you want to store this sugarless fruit cake for longer, wrap it well and freeze it.
If you'd like a lighter carrot-cake-style recipe, try this healthy carrot and apple cake, which also has no added sugar. Or if you are looking for a fat free sugar free fruit cake, then you can use applesauce to keep the cake moist and delicious.
Other healthy Christmas recipes
You can see a roundup of other healthy and delicious Christmas recipes here
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Recipe
No Added Sugar Fruit Cake
Ingredients
- 375 g mixed dried fruit
- ½ orange or 1 clementine
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon ground allspice
- 2 large eggs
- 100 g butter, well softened
- 150 g plain flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 tablespoon milk
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 160/140 fan.
Preparing the fruit
- Zest the orange and squeeze the orange juice, and make up to 100 ml with water. Add to a pan along with the dried fruits and spices. Bring to a gentle simmer for 5 minutes or until most of the juice has been absorbed. Leave to cool.375 g mixed dried fruit, ½ orange, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, ⅛ teaspoon ground allspice
Preparing the tin
- Whilst the fruit is cooling, prepare the tin. Line the bottom and sides of a 1lb loaf tin with buttered greaseproof paper or baking parchment.
Mixing the cake
- Beat the eggs, and mix in the softened butter, flour and baking powder. Stir in the milk. Add the cooled soaked dried fruit and mix well. Spoon the mixture into the prepared tin and smooth the top level2 large eggs, 100 g butter, well softened, 150 g plain flour, ½ teaspoon baking powder, 1 tablespoon milk
Baking
- Bake for 1 hour. If you are making double the quantity, increase the baking time to one and a half hours. The cake should be lightly browned, and if you insert a skewer if should come out clean.
Notes
- If you want to make a healthy Christmas cake, double the recipe and bake in a 23 cm round tin. Add an extra 30 minutes to the baking time.
- You can also add alcohol such as brandy or orange liqueur instead of the orange juice.
- Chopped nuts will also make this cake more festive - if you making a double quantity, add 100 g of your favourite nuts. Pecans, walnuts or almonds all work well.
- You can either add a glaze made with sugar free apricot jam or honey. Just melt the jam in a pan with a teaspoon of water and brush onto the cake. You can also decorate with extra dried fruits and nuts, or this honey and almond marzipan.
- For a gluten free fruit cake, use a plain gluten free flour blend.
Nutrition
Nutritional information
Please note nutritional information is per serving and is provided for guidance only.
Des says
No that I have to avoid sugar & I love fruit cake, I gave this a try turnout perfect, I even made it more healthier by using whole meal flour but have to remember to add a little more liquid to compensate for the flour.
Thankyou now I can still make my cake & eat it👍
Kenneth Bumby says
So far so good
Wendy Faulkner says
Thank you:)
Janis Burton says
A bit good I have to say......well done on this recipe. Already it will be a favourite all year round....easy to make and delicious to eat for a diabetic type 2. Thankyou.
Wendy Faulkner says
Thank you, that's great to hear, I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Frankie Brown says
Just made this.😀I have tried others before so wasn't holding out much hope, but this is great, lovely flavours and you would never guess that it is sugar free. I will definitely be making it again.
Wendy Faulkner says
Thank you, I'm really glad you liked it.
Jo says
If you're doubling for a round cake do you double the volume of liquid too (ie make juice up to 200ml) or still only 100ml as single batch?. Thanks
Wendy Faulkner says
Hi, you'll need to double everything including the liquid. So use 2 clementines or a whole orange and make the liquid up to 200ml.
Judith Phythian says
I had soaked the fruit for this year's Christmas cake in homemade coffee vodka a week ago and really needed to find a reliable recipe to make a sugar-free and grain-free Christmas cake. Your post fitted the bill and the fact that I could X3 the amounts was perfect. I now have three shiny cakes, glazed with chicory root syrup ( like honey but with less effect on blood sugar )
I will do as you said and in about a week I will freeze the cakes till the 24th. Many thanks, I am happy I found your fab site and intend to try many more of your goodies (I may need to make that Marzipan recipe)
Wendy Faulkner says
Thank you:) Wow, those sound like amazing Christmas cakes!
Sally says
Don't miss the sugar at all, great recipe.
Wendy says
Thanks for you comment:)
Guza says
Hi, how long does it keep? And how is it best stored? I'd like to use it as a make ahead Christmas cake.
Wendy says
Hi, thanks for your question. This fruit cake will keep well for a week. Store it in an airtight container at room temperature. If you do want to store the cake for longer, then wrap it in greaseproof paper and foil, and freeze for up to 3 months.
Pauline says
Cake tastes good but can self raising flour be used instead?.
Wendy says
Hi, thanks for getting in touch. Yes you can use self raising flour if you prefer. But you won't need the baking powder as well.
Oliver Neely says
Hi Wendy, can you keep it longer by feeding it with Brandy?
Also do you know if you can substitute with wholemeal flour at all?
Wendy says
Hi, thanks for your questions. I haven't tried storing this cake for longer. Without sugar, I'm not sure that this cake would mature in the same way as a traditional cake, even with the brandy. Have you thought about freezing the cake if you want to make it in advance? You could also use brandy to soak the fruit in stage 1 of the recipe if you want.
I have made the cake with wholemeal flour. It was slightly less moist, but still delicious.
Mary says
Hi, Can butter milk be used instead of butter?
Wendy says
Hi, thanks for getting in contact. I don't think you could substitute buttermilk as you'd end up with a very different texture. What is the reason for wanting to use buttermilk? If it's because you want to reduce the fat in the cake, you could use this recipe Fat Free Fruit Cake which replaces the butter with applesauce. Or you could use half butter, half applesauce if you prefer. I hope that helps.
Helen Anderson says
Hi, what would be the temperature for regular ovens? 350 Fahrenheit?
Wendy says
Hello. 325 degrees would be the equivalent for a regular (non fan) oven. Thanks for getting in contact.
Daleen says
Can I use something els instead of the orange?
Wendy says
Hi there. Thanks for your question. Yes, you can certainly replace the orange if you prefer. Just omit the zest, and instead of the juice you could either add some apple juice, or I have also used rooibos tea before. Or if it's a celebration cake, you could use alcohol such as brandy. Good luck.
Sumaira says
Hi .how can I make this cake low fat.By using cooking oil or nothing??
Wendy says
Hi Sumaira, yes you could use cooking oil if you prefer. Reduce the quantity slightly if you are using oil rather than butter, so use 80ml and add an extra tablespoon of milk. However, it'll still contain all the fat, so you might be better with a reduced fat baking spread instead. Another alternative, but I have not tried it myself with this particular recipe, would be to half the butter, and make up the difference with applesauce. I wouldn't recommend leaving out the fat altogether though. Good luck!
Karen says
Made 2 of these very tasty didn’t miss the sugar
Wendy says
Thanks Karen, glad you enjoyed them.
Jeanette Nerney says
Can this recipe be used for diabetics. I have a friend that keeps asking me to make her a cake. Does no fat and low sugar be OK.
Wendy Faulkner says
Hi, thanks for your question. Actually, this particular recipe does have butter in it which contains saturated fat. You might prefer to use this low sugar low fat fruit cake recipe instead. I'm not sure if it will link properly in the comments, but if you search fat free fruit cake in the search box it will come up, or browse the healthy baking category. There is apple sauce in the recipe which keeps it moist without butter or oil. I hope that helps, and I hope your friend enjoys it.