Spiced Fruit Christmas Kek Kukus

1.Prepare your steaming setup by filling a large pot with water and bringing it to a simmer. Grease a 20cm (8-inch) round cake pan with butter and line the bottom with parchment paper.

2.In a mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.

3.Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Then stir in the vanilla extract, orange zest, lemon zest, and rum (if using).

4.In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, and salt.

5.Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, alternating with the milk, and mix until just combined. Do not overmix.

6.Fold in the mixed dried fruits and nuts until evenly distributed throughout the batter.

7.Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan and smooth the top with a spatula.

8.Cover the cake pan tightly with aluminum foil to prevent water from entering during steaming.

9.Place the cake pan in the simmering pot of water, ensuring the water level is halfway up the sides of the pan. Cover the pot with a lid and steam for about 60-70 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.

10.Once cooked, carefully remove the cake from the pot and let it cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.

11.Once cooled, you can dust the top with powdered sugar or decorate with additional dried fruits and nuts for a festive touch.