Mum's Christmas cake

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christmas-cake

Mum’s recipe

Ingredients

225g butter
225g demerara sugar
5 eggs
3 tablespoons brandy
280g plain flour
pinch of salt
1 (level) teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon mixed spice
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon treacle
1 teaspoon cocoa (sieved well)
450g raisins
450g sultanas
225g currants
55g chopped dates (optional)
112g glace cherries
112g chopped walnuts
112g mixed peel
zest of 1 lemon
112g whole blanched almonds (for top)

(tin = 8.5 inches / 22cm square)

Method

  1. Preheat oven to 160C / Gas mark 3.
  2. Mix dried fruit together in bowl (and add brandy).
  3. Cream butter & sugar.
  4. Add beaten eggs and slowly fold in flour (sieved together with spices).
  5. Mix all together, pour into lined tin, press blanched almonds on top.
  6. Bake for 1½ hours at gas mark 3, 1 hour at gas mark 2, another 1 to 1½ hours at gas mark 1.
  7. Pour a little brandy over the cake when out of the oven.

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