Name: Easy Christmas Fruit Cake recipe
Prep time: 60 min
Cook time: 180 min
Total time: 240 min
Yield: 10
Ingredients: 250 g butter; 1 kg mixed dried fruit; 200 g brown sugar firmly packed; 125 ml brandy; 125 ml water; 1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda; 2 tsp orange rind grated; 1 tsp lemon rind grated; 1 tbs treacle; 5 eggs lightly beaten medium; 250 g plain flour; 50 g self-raising flour; 2 tbs glace cherries optional *to decorate; 2 tbs blanched almonds optional *to decorate

by Wendy22 Last updated on 10/10/2023

This is cooked in a saucepan and is fairly quick, no need to bring out your heavy mix-master. - Wendy22

Ingredients

250 g butter
1 kg mixed dried fruit
200 g brown sugar firmly packed
125 ml brandy
125 ml water
1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
2 tsp orange rind grated
1 tsp lemon rind grated
1 tbs treacle
5 eggs lightly beaten medium
250 g plain flour
50 g self-raising flour
2 tbs glace cherries optional *to decorate
2 tbs blanched almonds optional *to decorate

Method

Step 1

Grease a deep 23 cm round cake tin, line base and sides with 3 layers of baking paper to 5 cm above edge of tin.
Step 2

In a large saucepan, place butter, fruit, sugar, brandy and water.
Step 3

Bring to boil, stirring, then simmer covered for 10 minutes.
Step 4

Stir in soda, cover and allow to cool.
Step 5

Stir rinds, treacle, eggs and flours into cooled mixture. Spread evenly into prepared tin.
Step 6

Decorate with the cherries and almonds.
Step 7

Bake at 140C for about 2¾ hours, checking after 2 hours.
Step 8

Cover hot cake tightly with foil, cool in tin.