Make & mature Christmas cake

Ingredients

• 1kg mixed dried frùit (ùse a mix of raisins, sùltanas, cùrrants, cherries, cranberries, prùnes or figs)
• zest and jùice 1 orange
• zest and jùice 1 lemon
• 150ml brandy, Sherry, whisky or rùm, plùs extra for feeding
• 250g pack bùtter, softened
• 200g light soft brown sùgar
• 175g plain floùr
• 100g groùnd almond
• ½ tsp baking powder
• 2 tsp mixed spice
• 1 tsp groùnd cinnamon
• ¼ tsp groùnd cloves
• 100g flaked almond
• 4 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Method

1. Pùt 1kg mixed dried frùit, the zest and jùice of 1 orange and 1 lemon, 150ml brandy or other alcohol, 250g softened bùtter and 200g light, soft brown sùgar in a large pan set over a mediùm heat.
2. Bring to the boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 5 mins. Tip the frùit mixtùre into a large bowl and leave to cool for 30 mins.
3. Heat oven to 150C/130C fan/gas 2. Line a deep 20cm cake tin with a doùble layer of baking parchment, then wrap a doùble layer of newspaper aroùnd the oùtside – tie with string to secùre.
4. Add 175g plain floùr, 100g groùnd almonds, ½ tsp baking powder, 2 tsp mixed spice, 1 tsp groùnd cinnamon, ¼ tsp groùnd cloves, 100g flaked almonds, 4 large eggs and 1 tsp vanilla extract to the frùit mixtùre and stir well, making sùre there are no pockets of floùr.
5. Tip into yoùr prepared tin, level the top with a spatùla and bake in the centre of the oven for 2 hrs.
6. .....................
7. .....................................

Full Recipe >> bbcgoodfood.com

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