Christmas Cake

1lb sultanas
8oz raisins
8oz dates - pitted and chopped
4oz currants
4oz mixed peel
4oz glace cherries
2oz glace pineapple
2oz glace apricots
8oz butter - NOT margarine!
1 cup brown sugar - firmly packed
5 eggs
1/2 cup rum or brandy or whiskey
1/3 cup Self Raising (bakers) flour
1 3/4 cups Plain Flour
1 tsp mixed spice
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp salt

Additional 2 Tblsp rum/brandy/whiskey for glazing after baking
Clean fruit thoroughly and separate.
Chop raising, dates, peel, cherries, apricots and pineapple.
Into a large sealed container place all fruit plus rum/brandy/whiskey.
Allow to marinate overnight.
Line an 8" square tin or a deep 9" round tin.
Line with 6 layers of greaseproof paper on bottom, and 4 layers on sides.
Beat butter and sugar till creamy.
Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
Add creamed butter mixture to the fruit.
Stir in sifted flours.
Bake in a slow oven (300DegF/150DegC) for 3 to 3 1/2 hours.
Check after 3 hours. If top is browning but cake is not yet cooked, place aluminium foil over top of tin to prevent burning.
When cooked, baste with extra rum/brandy/whiskey while still hot.
Wrap tightly with aluminium foil and allow to cool.
Once cool, re-wrap with fresh greaseproof paper and foil and store in a sealed container.
Attribution.


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