Christmas Fruit Cake Recipe

Christmas is quite possibly one of my favourite times of the years! It’s no secret I’m a fan of cake, and I love making a Christmas Fruit Cake. It’s one of those traditions that has carried over from my own childhood. I can remember helping my Mama mix the cake, watch her feed the cake each week and then help decorate it {the best bit as it meant I could pinch some marzipan and icing!!!} This is the recipe I use – not based on any set one, just what I’ve ended up with over years of making my own and tweaking it to suit our tastes! I usually actually make two loaf sized Christmas fruit cakes as G doesn’t like the marzipan or icing – so one stays plain and the other gets decorated. I didn’t used to like eating Christmas fruit cake when I was little, but these days I love it! Its’ such an integral part of Christmas for me – I couldn’t imagine the season without making one.

I usually make it around the middle of November, and feed it for 4-5 weeks and then decorate it just before the big day!

I N G R E D I E N T S
1.2kg fruit {I normally use around 800g dried mixed fruit, 200g glace cherries & 200g apricots – but adjust to suit your preferences}
300g plain flour
250g dark brown sugar
300g butter
50g chopped nuts
4 large eggs
2 tsp mixed spice
1 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
2 tbsp black treacle
4 tbsp alcohol {brandy, whisky, spiced rum}
Zest of 1 lemon and 1 orange

H O W ~ T O
First, place all the fruit in a large bowl, sprinkle ofver the alcohol, cover and leave to soak overnight. I’m very generous with my 4tbsp measures!!!

Heat your oven to 140C and grease and double line your cake tin{s}

Mix the flour, sugar, butter, egs, spices, treacle and zests together. Then stir in the fruit and nuts.

Spoon the mixture into your tin{s} and pop a piece of buttered greaseproof paper on the top too so it doesn’t burn.

Bake for around 4 hours, checking with a skewer that it is cooked in the middle.

Leave to cool a little then pour a little extra alcohol over, and wrap tightly in foil.

‘Feed’ the Christmas fruit cake once a week with another tablespoon of alcohol and then decorate however you like!