Name: Traditional Christmas Cake
Prep time: 35 min
Cook time: 4 h
Total time: 4 h 35 min
Yield: Makes one 20 cm (8 in) cake; 16-20 slices
Ingredients: 500 g (3 cups) currants; 300 g (2 cups) sultanas/golden raisins; 200 g (1 1/3 cups) raisins; 150 g (1 cup) chopped dried apricots; 100 g (2/3 cup) chopped glace cherries; 100 g (2/3 cup) mixed candied peel; 150 ml (2/3 cup) brandy; 250 g (1 cup plus 2 tbsp) unsalted butter, softened; 250 g (1 1/4 cups) dark brown sugar; 4 large eggs; 250 g (2 cups) plain/all-purpose flour; 1 tsp (5 ml) mixed spice or pumpkin pie spice; 1/2 tsp (2.5 ml) ground cinnamon; 1/4 tsp (1 ml) ground nutmeg; 100 g (1 cup) ground almonds/almond flour; 1 tbsp (15 ml) black treacle or molasses

Traditional Christmas Cake

A rich fruit cake made ahead, matured with brandy and decorated for Christmas.

YieldMakes one 20 cm (8 in) cake; 16-20 slices

Prep35 minutes

Cook4 hours

Total4 hours 35 minutes plus soaking and maturing

Scale ingredients

Measurements

Instructions

Put the dried fruit, cherries, mixed peel and brandy in a large bowl. Cover and leave overnight.
Heat the oven to 140°C/275°F. Grease and double-line a deep 20 cm (8 in) round cake tin with parchment paper, leaving a collar above the rim.
Beat the butter and sugar until lighter and creamy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, adding a spoonful of flour if the mixture begins to split.
Fold in the remaining flour, spices, ground almonds and treacle/molasses. Fold in the soaked fruit and any liquid left in the bowl.
Spoon the mixture into the tin, level the top and make a shallow dip in the centre. Wrap the outside of the tin with a double layer of brown paper or foil.
Bake for 3 1/2-4 hours, until a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean. Cover loosely with foil if the top darkens too quickly.
Leave the cake to cool completely in the tin. Remove the lining, pierce the cake with a skewer and spoon over 1-2 tbsp (15-30 ml) brandy. Wrap tightly and store in a cool place.

Notes

Feed the cake with 1-2 tbsp (15-30 ml) brandy every 1-2 weeks, stopping at least 1 week before decorating.
For an undecorated finish, arrange whole blanched almonds on top before baking.

Traditional Christmas Cake

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Ingredients

Fruit mixture

Cake

Instructions

Notes

Traditional Christmas Cake

Print options

Ingredients

Fruit mixture

Cake

Instructions

Notes

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