There is still time to get your cake baked and have it moist and rich on Christmas day
250g currants
250g raisins
250g sultanas
250g glacé cherries, halved
250g dates, chopped
150g mixed peel
125ml brandy
250g butter
375g brown sugar
6 extra-large eggs
375ml flour
10ml baking powder
10ml mixed spice
100g pecan nuts, chopped
extra brandy
Combine all prepared fruit, cover with brandy and leave overnight.
Line a 23cm-deep cake tin with greaseproof paper.
Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
Mix a little flour into the fruit mixture. Sift remaining flour with baking powder and spice. Add to egg mixture alternately with fruit mixture. Finally, mix in the nuts.
Spoon into prepared tin and bake at 140°C for 3-4 hours.
Leave in tin to cool and wrap well in foil and plastic or air-tight tin until required.
Pour brandy over cake every now and then.
* Raisins, currants and sultanas can be replaced with 750g cake fruit mix.
* If you don’t want to use alcohol, use apple juice instead of brandy.
* If you want to ice your cake, do it about a week before Christmas. - The Star