This is my family recipe, and there is no better than this Christmas Dulce de leche fruitcake or Pan de Pascua. Christmas is not Christmas without eating this Fruitcake.
The secret to this Chilean fruitcake is the addition of dulce de leche to the batter, which makes the cake mellow and addictive.
If you know some Spanish, you will notice this recipe’s direct translation is Easter bread. I don’t have an explanation, but Christmas is called Pascua in Chile, Santa Claus is El Viejo Pascuero, and so on. If you are wondering, Easter is also Pascua, but Pascua de Resurrección.
Don’t get lost in the name; this fruitcake will make you fall in love.
How do you store a Dulce de leche Fruitcake?
It is better to do it a week before eating it and store it in a plastic bag once it is cold. This way, it improves its flavor. It must rest a full day before cutting it to prevent the crumb from falling apart.
How do I ensure that my Dulce de leche Fruitcake does not crumble?
It would help if you cut the Fruitcake with a serrated knife. That avoids a lot of crumbs. You can even use an electric knife.
My Dulce de Leche Fruitcake was dry or hard: what could it be?
There are two common causes: one that has been overcooked. The oven must be at a medium-low temperature, and the cake must be baked with patience so that it does not remain raw in the middle and overcooked on the borders. It is ideal to have an oven thermometer.
The other reason is overmixing: once you add the flour, you should only mix until incorporated, and it is better to combine the nuts and fruit by hand for the same reason. If you mix too much, the flour develops gluten, and the bread becomes hard.
What Dulce de Leche do you recommend?
This is an important question. The most traditional will be a canned Dulce de Leche, La Lechera brand (made in Chile) Amazon, affiliated link. It is easy to find in the USA’s Walmart, Safeway, and Latino markets. I don’t recommend using Argentinian Dulce de Leche; they are very heavy on vanilla flavor and distracting for Chilean purposes.
What can I serve to complement the Fruitcake?
Cola de Mono, of course. It is Chile’s version of eggnog but with coffee and no eggs.
Other variations of the Chilean Fruitcake:
Chilean Pan de Pascua with molasses or Chancaca
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Pan de Pascua Chilean Dulce de leche Fruitcake
Try this amazing Chilean Fruitcake, with Dulce de Leche on the batter.
- Total Time: 3 hours
- Yield: 4 cakes (12 portions each)
Ingredients
- 250 grams of raisins
- 250 grams of walnuts
- 250 grams of almonds
- 250 grams of unsalted roasted peanuts
- 500 grams of candied fruit chopped, optional; you may cut the fruit finely in the food processor or replace it with candied orange
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon,
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon powdered cloves
- zest of 1 lemon
- 3 tablespoons rum
- 500 grams unsalted butter at room temperature
- 500 grams of powdered sugar
- 6 eggs at room temperature
- 500 grams of Dulce de Leche (I used la Lechera cans)
- 1 kilo or 1000 grams of all-purpose flour sifted
- 3 teaspoons baking powder sifted
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- The day before, soak raisins, walnuts, peanuts, almonds, and candied fruit in rum with lemon zest and spices. Stir well. Cover with plastic wrap and let sit overnight.
- Preheat the oven to 150C or 300F.
- The next day, beat the butter and sugar with a mixer until creamy and pale, about 5 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing until well incorporated, beating 1 minute after each egg.
- Add the Dulce de Leche and beat until incorporated, about 3 minutes.
- Then add the flour, baking powder, and salt (sifted together) while mixing at low speed until well blended, about 3 minutes.
- Finally, add the soaked fruits and nuts by hand with a wooden spoon or spatula, mix well, and divide the dough in half to make it easier.
- Pour into buttered cake pans (7′ or 8′).
- Bake at 150C or 300F for 2 hours or until golden brown and a stick comes out without crumbs. Let stand 15 minutes in the pan and unmold. Allow to cool completely before cutting. Store in plastic bags for two weeks.
- Prep Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Category: Sweets
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Chilean
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 366
- Sugar: 23.2 g
- Sodium: 50.5 mg
- Fat: 18.7 g
- Saturated Fat: 6.9 g
- Carbohydrates: 44 g
- Fiber: 2.6 g
- Protein: 7.1 g
Did you use a round cake tin or a loaf shaped tin? I don’t want to end up with 4 cakes as I’d never eat them all so was thinking about quartering the recipe but want to make sure I use the right shaped tin.
The traditional shape is round. I will go with that 6″-7″ is best.
This was the most delicious pan de pascua I’ve ever eaten! It smelled divine while baking! I’ve never attempted to make it before, but my Chilean husband loves it, and trying to buy substitutes never pleased him. It does take a bit of work, but the results were outstanding! It is moist, not hard and heavy like most fruit cakes. I am so thankful to have this recepie!
I’m so glad Trish, it’s our family recipe, so I feel quite proud. Happy Holidays!!!
It says the recipe makes 4 cakes.
What size tins are you using?
6-7 inches diameter, I weighed mine 1 kilogram or 2 pounds of batter each.
Hi Pilar. thanks for this recipe!. It looks amazing! We have Chilean company coming for Christmas so I’m planning to make this cake.
I have a question. I don’t understand how 3 tablespoons of rum is enough to soak all the fruit and nuts. Could I use more rum and drain the leftover rum after soaking?
This is one of the differences in between Chilean fruitcake and others… you are not suppose to taste the rum at all. I recommend you follow the recipe.
Vamos hacer el Pan de Pascua con tu maravillosa receta y ya te contamos que tal ya?
un millon de gracias por tu lindas explicaciones para la receta..
Gracias Amanda, ojalá les guste.