Its taken a while to get me into the whole fruit cake vibe, but I am slowly coming round. As mentioned before, you will not find any peel, candied or other, in my cakes. You can add it if you like but then it wouldn't be mine, it would be yours, and that is just fine with me. This recipe can be adapted with whatever you have in your larder or your own taste buds...
Ingredients. Makes 1, 9" Cake
800g Dried Fruit / Nuts. I broke that down as follows but you can use whatever combination you like
200g Sultanas
100g Dried Apricots
100g Dried Figs
100g Glacé Cherries
100g Dried Blueberries
100g Dried Cranberries
100g Whole Almonds, roughly chopped
200ml Brandy
170g Soft Butter
170g Soft Brown Sugar
3 Eggs
225g Plain Flour
2tsp Mixed Spice
2tsp Ground Coriander
2tbsp Ginger Syrup. From a jar of ginger in syrup (optional)
Method
1. Put the fruit and nuts, excluding the glacé cherries, in a bowl and add the brandy, mix fully and set aside, this can be done up to a day in advance if you have time
2. Preheat the oven to 150º, no fan. Line your 9 inch cake tin
3. Cream the butter and sugar until fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, with a spoonful of flour after each one
4. Add the rest of the flour with the spices and the ginger syrup. I do up to this stage in the stand mixer
5. Remove the bowl from the mixer and fold in the glacé cherries and soaked fruit, don't forget the brandy!
6. Pop into your tin and bake for 40-45 minutes, check the top isn't getting too dark and cover with foil if so. I like it on the gooier side so feel free to bake for a further 10 minutes if you prefer your cake a little more done
7. As you take it out of the oven, you can make lots of little holes with a cocktail stick and douse it in more Brandy. Whereas this step is not entirely essential, it will make the gloomy winter go with a swing! Cool in the tin and keep wrapped in baking paper and foil until you are ready to eat. They will last a couple of months I have found
8. Enjoy on it's own, with butter, or cheese or another tot of brandy!
Comments