Ingredients
- 225g (8oz) plain flour
- 1 tsp mixed spice
- ½ tsp freshly grated nutmeg
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- 225g (8 oz) butter
- 225g (8 oz) Muscovado sugar
- 6 large eggs, beaten
- 85g (3 oz) ground almonds
- 625g (1lb 6oz) mixed fruit, currants, sultanas and raisins
- 115g (4 oz) mixed chopped peel
- 55g (2 oz) crystallised pineapple, chopped
- 55g (2 oz) dried cranberries
- 85g (3 oz) dried apricots, chopped
- 85g (3 oz) crystallised papaya pieces, chopped
- 115g (4 oz) glacé cherries cut into quarters
- 3 tbsp brandy
Decoration:
- Glacé fruits
- Walnut halves
- Brazil nuts
- Apricot glaze
Method
Preparation time: 50 minutes. Cooking time: 6 hours.
- Line the base of a 23cm (9 inch) round spring form cake tin.
- Sieve the flour and the spices together. Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in the eggs, which should be at room temperature, adding a tablespoon of flour to prevent curdling towards the end.
- Fold in the remaining flour, ground almonds and fruit until thoroughly mixed. Turn the mixture into the prepared tin and smooth the top.
- Place the cake tin on the grid shelf on the floor of the simmering oven and cook for about 5½-6 hours until cooked.
- Test with a skewer; if a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean, it is cooked. Or if the cake has stopped ‘singing’ it is an indication that it is done. Leave in the tin for 30 minutes and then turn onto a wire rack to cool. Prick the surface of the cake with a skewer and spoon the brandy over.
Tips
- Wrap in foil until required. Decorate with glacé fruits and nuts, brush with apricot glaze to give a shiny finish.
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