Last Minute Christmas Cake

I am feeling a little worse for wear today after attending my first Christmas Party.  I didn't really think I'd had that much to drink but I am paying for it big time.  I spent the afternoon on the settee watching An Audience with Take That - it was good to see the boys back!

I am planning on making this cake - it's a Last Minute Christmas Cake and if like me, you haven't got around to actually making one yet, it could be the perfect solution. 

Here is the recipe for anyone who is interested -

The tree is sparkling, the presents wrapped, the guest room made up…something missing — the Christmas cake! With all the preparations we make for the festive season, it can be all too easy to forget something, but help is at hand with this Last Minute Christmas Cake recipe.

Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 2 - 2 1/2 hours cooking
Serves: 12

Ingredients
675 g (1 1/2 lb) mixed dried fruits
75 g (2 3/4 oz) glacé cherries, quartered
Zest and juice of 1 lemon
Zest and juice of 1 orange
4 tablespoons dark rum or brandy
225 g (8 oz) butter, softened
225 g (8 oz) light soft brown sugar
4 large Lion Quality eggs, beaten
225 g (8 oz) plain flour
1/2 teaspoon mixed ground spice
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
50 g (1 3/4 oz) flaked almonds

Method

1 Place the first four ingredients in a medium pan.
Bring to the boil. Remove from the heat and stir
in the rum or brandy. Cool.

2 Preheat the oven to Gas Mark 3 / 170 degrees C / 320 degrees F.
Grease a 20cm (8-inch) deep round cake tin
and line with baking parchment.

3 Purée one third of the fruit in a food processor.
Cream the butter and sugar together with an
electric whisk until soft and fluffy. Gradually
add the eggs, beating well between additions.
Stir in the flour and spices.

4 Stir in the fruit purée and then the almonds
and fruits. Spoon into the tin and level the
surface. Bake for 2 - 2 1/2 hours. Cool in the tin.

Comments

[carolyn]

My husband made our Christmas cake sometime ago otherwise I just know I would end up trying this version. Hope your feeling better by now, how about a hair of the dog?

[Kim]

Hmm, that sounds good!