Name: Rich Christmas Cake by Julie Heron
Total time: 200 min
Yield: 10
Cuisine: Christmas
Ingredients: 550g/1 1/4lb plain flour; 2 tsp ground mixed spice; 1 tsp ground cinnamon; 1 tsp ground nutmeg; 1 tsp salt 225g/8oz glacé cherries; 625g/1lb 6oz currants; 550g/1 1/4lb sultanas; 550g/1 1/4lb raisins; 150g/5ozs mixed peel; 450g/1lb soft butter; 450/1lb soft brown granulated sugar; 9 eggs - room temperature; 1 tsp almond extract; 1 tbsp black treacle; Grated rind from 1 orange and 1 lemon

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Rich Christmas Cake by Julie Heron - Family Recipes

Serves: 10 people

Course: Cakes

Occasion: Christmas

Machine: Mixer

Total time (min.): 200

Complexity (1 to 3): 2

Storing - wrap cake in greaseproof paper, then foil and keep in a cool dark place. Do not store the cake in the fridge. You may freeze slices of the cake by wrapping tightly in cling film, then foil. Oven temp = 150C/300F/Gas 2 - Cooking hours three to three and a half hours, reducing to 140C/275F/Gas 1 half way through cooking for a 10 inch tin.

Tools

Kitchen Machines: Stand mixers, or hand blenders
Accessories and Attachments: Spiral dough tool, K beater, whisk tool

Ingredients

550g/1 1/4lb plain flour
2tsp ground mixed spice
1tsp ground cinnamon
1tsp ground nutmeg
1tsp salt 225g/8oz glacé cherries
625g/1lb 6oz currants
550g/1 1/4lb sultanas
550g/1 1/4lb raisins
150g/5ozs mixed peel
450g/1lb soft butter
450/1lb soft brown granulated sugar
9 eggs - room temperature
1tsp almond extract
1tbsp black treacle
Grated rind from 1 orange and 1 lemon

Method

Set the oven at the selected temp. Grease and line the tin with a double thickness of greaseproof paper.
Sift the flour, spices and salt together, set aside.
Quarter or chop the cherries and mix together with all dried fruit, set aside.
Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time with a spoonful of the flour mixture, beating well between each addition. Add the almond extract, black treacle and grated rind from the orange and lemon. Beat well to give a smooth mixture.
Slowly mix in the remainder of the flour then the dried fruit until well combined.
Transfer the mixture to the prepared tin. You can use the 'bake-even cake strips' to ensure your cake top does not crack.
Bake for the suggested time, checking the cake about 15-30 minutes before the end of the cooking time.
If the cake looks as if it is darkening/burning on top, place a double thickness of greaseproof paper over whilst cooking. Allow the cake to cool in the tin. While the cake is still warm, remove from the tin leaving the greaseproof paper in tact, skewer all over and pour whiskey/brandy over. Leaving the greaseproof paper on, wrap in cling film then foil and feed it liquor regularly to keep moist. Remove wrapping when ready to Ice and decorate.

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