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Pilar's Chilean Food & Garden

Pilar's Chilean Food & Garden

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Pan de Pascua Chilean Dulce de leche Fruitcake

November 21, 2022 by Pilar Hernandez
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Versión en español

Pan de Pascua Chilean Dulce de leche FruitcakeA family recipe, and as such, for me, 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, making a cake mellow and addictive.
Chilean Dulce de Leche Fruitcake
If you know some Spanish, you will notice that this recipe is known as Easter bread, I don’t have an explanation, but in Chile: Christmas is called Pascua, Santa Claus is El Viejo Pascuero, and so on. In case you are wondering, Easter is also Pascua de Resurrección.
Don’t get lost in the name; this fruitcake will imake you fall in love.

How to 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. And it must rest for at least 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 bake with patience so that it does not remain raw in the middle and overcooked on the borders. 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 can I serve to complement the Fruitcake?

Cola de Mono, of course, is Chile’s version of eggnog, but with coffee and no eggs.

Christmas Dulce de leche Cake or Chilean Pan de Pascua or fruitcake

Other variations of the Chilean Fruitcake:

Chilean Pan de Pascua with molasses or Chancaca

Chocolate Fruitcake

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Pan de Pascua Chilean Dulce de leche Fruitcake

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Try this amazing Chilean Fruitcake, with Dulce de Leche on the batter.

  • Total Time: 3 hours
  • Yield: 4 cakes (12 portions each) 1x

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 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 on the food processor whether or replace 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

  1. The day before. Soak raisins, walnuts, peanuts, almonds, candied fruit in rum with lemon zest and spices. Stir well. Cover with plastic wrap and let sit overnight.
    Fruitcake fruits
  2. Preheat the oven to 150C o 300F.
  3. Beat the butter and sugar with a mixer until creamy and pale the next day, about 5 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing until well incorporated, beating 1 minute after each egg.
  4. Add the Dulce de Leche and beat until incorporated, about 3 minutes.Butter, and dulce de leche creamed
  5. Then add the flour with the baking powder and salt (sifted together) while mixing at low speed until well blended, about 3 minutes.Fruitcake dough
  6. Finally, add by hand with a wooden spoon or spatula the soaked fruits and nuts, mix well, I divide the dough in half to make it easier.
    Fruitcake added fruits
  7. Pour into buttered cake pans (7′ or 8′).
    Raw fruitcake batter in the pan
  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.
    Chilean Dulce de Leche Fruitcake
  • Author: Pilar Hernandez
  • 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

Keywords: chilean fruitcake, chilean cuisine

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Category: Chilean Breads, Chilean Cakes & Bakes, Chilean recipes

Reader Interactions

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  1. Lisa Peirano

    December 11, 2017 at 11:31 pm

    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.

    Reply
    • Pilar Hernandez

      December 12, 2017 at 9:02 am

      The traditional shape is round. I will go with that 6″-7″ is best.

      Reply
  2. Trish

    December 7, 2017 at 1:57 pm

    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!

    Reply
    • Pilar Hernandez

      December 8, 2017 at 9:39 am

      I’m so glad Trish, it’s our family recipe, so I feel quite proud. Happy Holidays!!!

      Reply
  3. Snez

    December 21, 2016 at 5:39 pm

    It says the recipe makes 4 cakes.
    What size tins are you using?

    Reply
    • Pilar Hernandez

      December 22, 2016 at 7:15 am

      6-7 inches diameter, I weighed mine 1 kilogram or 2 pounds of batter each.

      Reply
  4. Leni nazare

    December 14, 2015 at 7:01 am

    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?

    Reply
    • Pilar Hernandez

      December 14, 2015 at 9:53 am

      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.

      Reply
  5. Amanda

    December 11, 2015 at 11:11 pm

    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..

    Reply
    • Pilar Hernandez

      December 12, 2015 at 9:49 am

      Gracias Amanda, ojalá les guste.

      Reply
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Hello, I’m Pilar

Hello! I'm Pilar Hernandez, a Latina mom, cookbook author, and urban farmer. I'm currently based in Seattle, WA. I was born and raised in Chile. I went to medical school there and then moved to …

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