Festive Christmas Cake

Ingredients

• 450g glace cherries
• 225g mixed peel
• 300g sultanas
• 150g currants
• 175g pitted dates, chopped
• 125g blanched almonds, chopped
• 1/2 cup brandy
• 1/2 cup plain flour
• 2 cups plain flour, extra
• 1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 250g butter
• 2 1/2 cups soft dark brown sugar
• 6 eggs
• 1/2 cup treacle or golden syrup
• 3/4 cup apple juice

Preparation method

1. Combine cherries, mixed peel, sultanas, currants, dates and almonds in a large bowl. Add brandy, toss and stand overnight. Stir flour into soaked fruit.
2. Preheat oven to 140 C. Grease a 20cm round cake pan and line with two layers baking paper. Mix together extra flour, bicarbonate of soda, spices and salt in a small bowl.
3. Beat butter in a bowl with an electric mixer until light and creamy. Gradually beat in brown sugar and eggs. Mix together treacle and apple juice. Beat into butter mixture alternately with flour mixture. Fold in floured fruit. Spread mixture into prepared cake pan.
4. Bake for 3 to 3½ hours, or until a skewer inserted into the centre of cake comes out clean. Cool cake in pan then remove and wrap in baking paper and then foil. Store in a cool place.