Description
A delightful homemade Christmas fruit cake showcasing a medley of dried fruits and aromatic spices, perfect for the festive season.
Ingredients
Scale
- 200 g Unsalted Butter
- 200 g Light Brown Muscovado Sugar
- 300 g Mixed Dried Fruit
- 100 g Glacé Cherries
- 100 g Dried Cranberries
- 1 each Zest and Juice of Orange & Lemon
- 100 ml Cherry Brandy
- 100 g Coarsely Ground Almonds
- 3 each Eggs
- 250 g Plain (All-Purpose) Flour
- 1 tsp Baking Powder
- 1 tsp Mixed Spice
- 1 tsp Ground Cinnamon
- 1 tsp Ground Allspice
- 50 ml Cherry Brandy
Instructions
- In a large pan, melt the unsalted butter and brown sugar over medium heat until bubbling, then stir in the mixed dried fruit, glacé cherries, cranberries, citrus zest, and juice, along with the cherry brandy. Simmer for 10 minutes, then set aside to cool completely.
- Preheat your oven to 150°C (300°F) and prepare a cake tin by lining the bottom with baking parchment.
- Once the mixture has cooled, mix in the coarsely ground almonds and eggs until the batter is smooth.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the plain flour, baking powder, and mixed spices. Gradually fold this dry mixture into the fruit mixture until just incorporated.
- Pour the batter into the prepared cake tin, smoothing the top with a spatula.
- Bake for approximately 45 minutes, then reduce the temperature to 140°C (275°F) and continue baking for an additional 60-75 minutes, until the top is golden brown and a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean.
- While the cake is still warm, poke holes in the surface and drizzle with cherry brandy. Allow it to cool in the tin before wrapping securely for storage.
Notes
- Use dark brown sugar if muscovado is unavailable.
- A mix of raisins, sultanas, and dried apricots is ideal.
- For non-alcoholic version, substitute cherry brandy with apple juice or tea.
- Fresh fruit cannot substitute glacé cherries directly.
- Can swap dried cranberries for chopped dried figs.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 105 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: International
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 25 g
- Sodium: 50 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg