Christmas Cake

 When Man Wonderful and I moved in together it was the summer time. All was great.

When the Autumn began it was time for me to make the Christmas cake, so I bought the basic things I needed and made two cakes. These went in the oven, and were then cooling on a rack while we were watching TV in the evening. 
Man Wonderful popped into the kitchen to get us a drink each and came back into the lounge with his mouth chewing.
I asked him what was he eating?
He said he was trying my Christmas cake - and it was gorgeous!
I thought he was trying a piece from the edge and thought nothing more of it, but when I went to the kitchen about an hour later I found that the cake had a large triangular slice cut out of it....I asked Man Wonderful what on earth was happening, and he said my cake was gorgeous, and could I make more?!

His first wife was a superb cake maker, but he was never allowed more than one tiny piece, so being able now to eat and enjoy a large piece of cake was just perfect.

So, every year since, I make several Christmas cakes and they get eaten and enjoyed.

My cake isn't expensive to make, and it is really easy.

Here is the list of ingredients: 

Tracey's Christmas Cake

1150g dried fruit - I tend to use a mixture of raisins, sultanas and currants

200g glace cherries, cut in half

250ml rum or brandy

Pop the fruits in a large baking bowl, add the booze and cover with clingfilm for a couple of days, shaking to mix from time to time.

When you are ready to bake, mix together:

680g plain flour (I use gluten free for MW)

80g ground almonds

350g marg or butter (I use dairy free)

4 beaten eggs

2 tsp cinnamon

2 tsp mixed spices

a pinch of salt

add:

250g dark brown sugar (I tend to use muscovado)

100g light brown sugar

mix well then add:

zest of an orange

zest of a lemon

120g chopped almonds 

Now mix together with your soaked fruit.

Line a deep baking tin with paper, and grease the paper.

Heat the oven to 160c, spoon the cake mix into the tin and bake for 1 1/2 hours.

Test the cake by putting in a skewer or a knife and if it comes out clean the the cake is cooked.

Otherwise try again in half and hour..and possibly another half an hour.

Cook on  a cooling rack.

Don't tell hubby there is cake to try!!

When it's cold, wrap in greaseproof paper and store for Christmas.

Enjoy!

Take care,

Tracey xx