Christmas Cake Recipe - Can be made last minute, no need to feed

mixed dried fruit

🥗Healthier: fresh fruit

💰Cheaper: raisins and sultanas

Using fresh fruit can reduce sugar content and cost.

unsalted butter

🥗Healthier: coconut oil

💰Cheaper: margarine

Coconut oil offers a dairy-free alternative.

brandy

🥗Healthier: apple juice

💰Cheaper: grape juice

Apple juice provides moisture without alcohol.

royal icing

🥗Healthier: whipped cream

💰Cheaper: store-bought frosting

Whipped cream is lighter and easier to prepare.

Start by making strong tea using 3 tea bags.

Add blood orange marmalade to the hot tea and melt it.

Pour the melted marmalade over 1 kilo of mixed dried fruit in a bowl.

Add glassy cherries and mixed peel to the bowl and stir to combine.

Add the zest of 2 oranges to the mixture and stir.

Add 100 ml of alcohol (a mix of pork cherry brandy, amaretto, and whiskey liqueur) to the bowl and mix well.

Cover the bowl and let the mixture soak for ideally overnight, or at least a few hours.

After soaking for about 6 hours, check the fruit; it should be soft and fragrant.

In a mixing bowl, cream together soft brown sugar and unsalted butter until combined.

Add 2 eggs to the mixture along with some of the pre-measured flour and a little salt, and mix.

Add the remaining flour, mixed spice, and 100 grams of chopped nuts to the bowl and mix until combined.

Prepare the cake tins by lining the outside with greaseproof paper and double lining the bottom.

Lightly grease a mini cupcake tin with Trex and spoon about a teaspoon of the mixture into each compartment.

Fill the 6-inch round cake tin with the mixture, leaving about an inch of space at the top.

Bake the mini cakes for about 30 minutes, checking them after 15-20 minutes.

Bake the 6-inch cake for about 2 to 3 hours, checking for doneness with a skewer.

Once baked, let the mini cakes cool and pop them out of the tin by running a knife around the sides.

Remove the 6-inch cake from the tin after it has cooled slightly.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens