Gift A Christmas Cake

Ingredientsfor 20 servings

• 250 g Unsalted Butter
• 200 g Brown sugar dark or Light
• 4 large Eggs
• 10 ml Vanilla Essence
• 3/4 cup Water
• 450 g Plain flour or you can use 500 gm with 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 50 g Self raising flour
• Bi carbonate of soda - 1 1/4 tsp
• 300 ml Orange juice
• 250 g Raisins and sultanas
• 200 g Black currant
• 150 g Almond nuts — ground
• 100 g Mixed peel
• 150 g Glazed cherries
• 100 g Dates — chopped
• 50 g Candied ginger
• 50 g Dried apricots and figs choppped
• 2 Tbs orange marmalade
• 2 Tbs Black treacle or liquid caramel
• 1 cup Orange juice, orange and lemon rind — grated
• Spices
• 1 tsp Pepper
• 1 tsp Five spice powder
• 1 tsp Cinnamon powder
• 1 tsp Nutmeg — grated
• 1 tsp Mace powder
• Cherries and nuts

Preparation

1. Step 1

   Soak all dry fruits and nuts in orange juice and leave overnight.

2. Step 2

   Grease two loaf pans (25.4 x 14 x 5.6 cm) and line with butter paper. Preheat oven at 140c Simmer Together :- soaked fruits, butter, brown sugar, water in a large pan for 5 minutes. Leave to cool. Add soda bicarb. Mix gently when it froths.

3. Step 3

   Beat eggs lightly. Add to the cooled mixture a little at a time. Mix with a wooden spoon.

4. Step 4

   Sieve the flour with spices. Add to the egg mixture and fold in lightly.

5. Step 5

   Add Caramel or (black treacle), orange juice, vanilla essence, salt, orange and lemon rind.

6. Step 6

   Add more orange juice if the batter is too thick and stir.

7. Step 7

   Pour into greased and line loaf pans. Bake for 2 1/2 to 3 hrs until cooked.

8. Step 8

   Cool and store wrapped in foil to mature. Remove wrappings after a week. Slice into even pieces.