This recipe makes a 20cm (8in) round cake, OR an 18cm (7in) square cake, OR 2 x 1 litre (13/4 pint) bowl cakes. If you only want 1 bowl cake, then halve the quantities. Decorate this delicious fruit cake with one of our great Christmas designs
Makes: 20cm (8in) round cake
Prep time: 25 mins
Cooking time: 4 hrs 30 mins
Total time: 4 hrs 55 mins
Skill level: Easy peasy
Costs:Mid-price
Ingredients
- 250g (8oz) butter, softened
- 250g (8oz) light muscovado sugar
- 1 level tbsp ginger
- 1 level tbsp ground cinnamon
- Finely zested rind and juice of 1 orange
- 4 large eggs
- 300g (10oz) plain flour
- 1kg packet dried mixed fruit
- 2 x 170g packets dried cranberries, eg, Craisins
- 4-6tbsp Cointreau or Grand Marnier
- 20cm (8in) round cake tin or 18cm (7in) square, lined with baking parchment, or 2 x 1 litre (1¾ pint) ovenproof pudding basins, well buttered and floured
Method
- To ensure that the cake will be central in the oven, position a shelf just below the centre. Set the oven to Gas Mark 1 or 140°C.
- In a bowl, cream together the butter, sugar, ginger, cinnamon and orange zest until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, adding a little flour with each egg. Beat well before adding the next egg. Beat in the orange juice and remaining flour.
- Fold in dried mixed fruit and cranberries. Spoon mixture into the prepared tin or bowl, level the surface, and smooth with a wet hand.
- Place the cake in the centre of the oven. Round and square cakes take about 4-4½ hours, and basin cakes take about 3-3½ hours, or until firm to the touch in the centre and a skewer comes out clean after being inserted into the cake.
- Place the tin/basin on a wire rack to cool for about 15 mins. Spoon over the Cointreau or Grand Marnier and leave to absorb.
- Let round or square cakes cool completely in their tins, but turn the basin cakes out on to a wire rack to cool.
- To store the cakes, wrap well in baking parchment, then foil. Keep in a cool, airy place for up to 3 months.
Decorate this cake with one of these designs:
Pleated shimmer Christmas cake
Classic chic Christmas cake
Festive stocking filler Christmas cake
Coolest igloo Christmas cake
Nutritional information per portion
This nutritional information is only a guide and is based on 2,000 calories per day. For more information on eating a healthy diet, please visit the Food Standards Agency website.
Guideline Daily Amount for 2,000 calories per day are: 70g fat, 20g saturated fat, 90g sugar, 6g salt.
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