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Felicity's Tried and Tested - Best Ever Christmas Cake

With Felicity's permission I am able to share this fabulous Christmas Cake recipe.
Prep Time1 day
Cook Time4 hours

Ingredients

Christmas Cake Recipe

  • 1.8 kg dried fruit (you could use a prepared Christmas fruit mix or your own mix of favourite dried fruits)
  • 1 lemon zest (not needed if using a packaged fruit mix)
  • 250 ml port, sherry or brandy
  • 500 grams butter
  • 500 grams brown sugar
  • 10 eggs
  • 1 tbsp golden syrup
  • 1 tbsp coffee essence (or 1 tsp of instant coffee dissolved in 1tbsp of boiling water)
  • 600 grams plain flour
  • 1 tsp nutmeg
  • 1 tsp lemon essence (optional)
  • 2 tsp vanilla essence (optional)
  • 2 tsp almond essence (optional)

Brandy Icing

  • 300 grams icing sugar
  • 50 grams butter
  • 25 ml cream (or milk)
  • 25 ml brandy

Instructions

Christmas Cake

  • Place the dried fruit in a very large bowl and pour over the alcohol. Cover and leave for 24-48 hours (If the fruit looks thirsty you could always add a little more).
  • Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius (360 Fahrenheit).
  • Line your chosen cake tin (this is the most important step).
  • Cream the butter and sugar until light, pale and fluffy.
  • Add the eggs two at a time. Mixing well after each addition.
  • Fold through the golden syrup and coffee essence to the creamed mixture.
  • Add the creamed mixture to the large bowl of fruit and alcohol.
  • Fold through the flour, nutmeg and remaining essences. Mix well to ensure all the ingredients are combined.
  • Place in the prepared tin and into the oven. Turn the oven down to 140 degrees Celsius (280 Fahrenheit) after ten minutes and set a timer for 3 hours time.
  • Use your finger to test the top of the cake. It is dense so it will not spring back, but you don't want your finger to make an indent. Test with a skewer. You want the skewer to come out clean when inserted in to the middle of the cake. Cook for up to 4 hours.
  • Cool on a wire rack (this is best done overnight because it will take some time to cool, as it will hold heat for a long period of time). Once cool wrap on brown paper and tinfoil until needed. This is easily prepared a month in advance.

Brandy Icing

  • Melt the butter.
  • Place the icing sugar into a small bowl and pour the melted butter, cream and brandy over the top. Mix until smooth.
  • Roughly ice the top of the Christmas cake making peaks with your icing knife.
  • Leave for two hours or more to set.