The Planter’s Fruit Cake – A Christmas Tradition from Vanilla County

At the old Mavady Estate Bungalow, near Vagamon, Christmas carries the scent of caramel, spice, and old planter traditions. This Dutch-style heritage home, now known as Vanilla County, belongs to fifth-generation planter Mathew Vallikappen, whose kitchen comes alive each season with the making of the Planter’s Fruit Cake.

The recipe traces its roots to Mathew’s maternal grandmother, Chinnamma Dominic, a gifted cook who perfected her version of the English-style fruit cake in another part of Kerala. Her cakes, baked in a borma fired with coconut shells, were fragrant with clove, cinnamon, and nutmeg — and always made with care, time, and a touch of joy. What began in her kitchen lives on today at Mavady — a celebration of heritage, family, and the art of baking slowly.

As Mathew puts it:

“Every cake is a tribute to the planters who came before, and to the women whose hands passed down the craft with love.”

The story of Kerala’s fruit cake began in the early 1900s, when British planters introduced their festive bakes to the midlands. Over time, local families like the Vallikappens infused those recipes with their own produce — caramel, vanilla, and a generous pour of Old Monk rum — creating something uniquely Kerala.

At Vanilla County’s Taranaki Bakery, that spirit endures. Fruits are soaked for months, the spice blend is hand-crafted from the estate, and each batch is mixed by hand using the finest local ingredients. The result is a moist, aromatic cake — a slice of the hills and a taste of legacy.

Mathew’s time in New Zealand refined that heritage with artisanal precision. His bakery’s name, The Taranaki — from the Maori word Taranaki, meaning “Luck to the Mountains” — reflects both his journey abroad and his connection to the Mavady hills.

This Christmas, Vanilla County’s limited-edition Planter’s Fruit Cake celebrates more than a season — it celebrates lineage, land, and the quiet joy of sharing something made with heart.

Pre-order your cake here: https://www.vanillacounty.in/product-page/traditional-fruit-cake

Only 300 cakes are baked each year — some gifted, some shared, all made with love.