Spiced easy fruit cake

Spiced easy fruit cake

This recipe is ideal for people who prefer a lighter Christmas or fruit cake. It’s quicker and very very easy too.

Spiced easy fruit cake

  • Serves icon Serves 12-14
  • Time icon Takes 15 minutes to make, 1½-2 hours to cook, plus cooling

This recipe is ideal for people who prefer a lighter Christmas or fruit cake. It’s quicker and very very easy too.

Nutrition: per serving

Calories
440kcals
Fat
19.5g (8.7g saturated)
Protein
6.8g
Carbohydrates
58g (41g sugar)
Salt
0.6g

For 14 servings

Ingredients

  • 250g raisins
  • 175g golden sultanas
  • 100g candied peel, finely chopped
  • 50g glacé cherries, halved
  • 150ml whisky
  • Grated zest of 2 oranges
  • 200g butter, at room temperature, plus extra for greasing
  • 180g soft light brown sugar
  • 4 large free-range eggs
  • 275g self-raising flour
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1 tsp ground mixed spice
  • ½ tsp ground cloves
  • 1 tsp ground ginger
  • Splash of milk (optional)
  • 100g blanched almonds, plus extra to decorate
  • Apricot jam to glaze
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Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 160°C/fan140°C/gas 3. Put the dried fruit, peel, glacé cherries, whisky and zest in a pan. Warm through for a few minutes, then set aside to cool.
  2. Grease and line a 23cm cake tin. Beat the butter with a hand whisk, or in a food processor, until soft. Add the sugar and beat until pale and fluffy.
  3. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. In a clean bowl, sift the flour and baking powder with the spices, then fold into the butter mixture. Add the soaked fruit and almonds. If the mixture is a little thick, add a bit of milk until the dough reaches a dropping consistency.
  4. Spoon the mixture into the tin, smooth the top, then decorate with the extra almonds. Bake for 1-1½ hours until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Allow to cool in the tin before turning out.
  5. Melt a good dollop of apricot jam with a splash of boiling water and brush over the cake for a glossy finish. Serve with a glass of mulled wine, if you like.

Nutrition

For 14 servings

Nutrition: per serving
Calories
440kcals
Fat
19.5g (8.7g saturated)
Protein
6.8g
Carbohydrates
58g (41g sugar)
Salt
0.6g

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