| Christmas Cake - recipe [message #24937] |
Sun, 03 January 2010 07:07 |
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Christmas Fruit Cake
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4024/4230606656_9a28beebfc.jp g
Note: I am working in metric
175g red or natural glace cherries
350g currants
225g sultanas
225g raisins
175g chopped dried apricots
75g finely chopped candied peel
4 TBSP brandy (plus extra for cake)
275g plain flour
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp mixed spice (see note 2)
400g softened butter
400g dark muscovado sugar
5 large eggs
65g chopped almonds
1 TBSP black Treacle (I used blackstrap molasses)
grated rind of one lemon and one orange
DAY ONE
Mix all the fruit and peel into a large bowl. Rinse and dry and chop cherries and add. Add brandy, stir, cover and keep in a cool place overnight
DAY TWO
Heat oven to 140 Deg C (Gas1) and grease a 23 cm deep round cake tin (line base and sides with double layer of baking paper)
Measure flour, nutmeg and mixed spices, butter, sugar ,eggs, nuts, treacle, and grated rind into a large bowl and beat to mix thoroughly (I beat my eggs first lightly and then add to the dry mix)
Fold in soaked fruits and spoon mix into prepared tin and spread evenly. If desired decorate the top of the cake with nuts and halved glace cherries
Cover top of cake loosely with double layer of baking paper and bake in preheated oven for 4- 41/2 hrs (until skewer comes out clean)
Leave to cool in tin, and when cake is almost cold, turn out, remove paper and finish cooling on wire rack. Once cold, pierce with skewer and feed with more brandy, wrap in a double layer of baking paper and then tinfoil and store in cool dry place for up to 3 months. Feed regularly with more brandy.
Note 1 - you can use any preferred mix of fruits so long as it makes up the weight in the recipe
Note 2 - I have seen some questions from US bakers on other forums as to what mixed spice is - this might help
http://www.theepicentre.com/Spices/mixedspice.html
http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Mixed-Spice
Mixed Spice in New Zealand is a pre packed spice containing the
following: coriander, cinnamon, pimento, ginger, cassia, nutmeg and
cloves.
In Australia this is a mix of the following:
cinnamon, coriander, ginger, cassia, cloves and nutmeg
Enjoy!
Stacey
[Updated on: Sun, 03 January 2010 07:07] by Moderator
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