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Chocolate Dried Fruit Cake

This cake combines pantry staples like dried fruits and chocolate into a dense, moist loaf with a chewy texture. The batter is mixed until ingredients are just combined and baked until golden with visible cracks on the surface, resulting in a rich, dark appearance with specks of dried fruit throughout.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings: 8
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: baking
Calories: 350
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3/4 cup dried apricots, chopped preferably diced small
  • 1/2 cup raisins
  • 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips

Equipment

  • Mixing bowls
  • Whisk or spatula
  • Loaf pan
  • Parchment paper
  • Oven

Method
 

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a loaf pan with parchment paper or lightly grease it to prevent sticking.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, salt, and sugar until evenly combined. The mixture should be uniform and slightly clumpy.
  3. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs with the vegetable oil and vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth and slightly frothy, about 1-2 minutes.
  4. Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and stir gently with a spatula until just combined, aiming for a thick, slightly lumpy batter. Do not overmix.
  5. Fold in the chopped dried apricots, raisins, and dark chocolate chips until evenly distributed throughout the batter. The dried fruits should be visibly dispersed.
  6. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan, smoothing the top with a spatula. Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until the top is cracked and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with moist crumbs. The cake will be dark with visible flecks of dried fruit.

Notes

Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 15 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. Best served at room temperature or slightly warmed.