DEEPAN MUKHERJEE

Hey folks its christmas time and how can we go ahead without a Christmas Cake ,huh?

So here is a mouth watering receipe i went through recently & I felt like sharing it with you all

Preparation Time 30mins
Cooking Time 180 mins




Ingredients (serves 20)

510g (3 cups) sultanas
265g (1 1/2 cups) Sunbeam flame raisins
155g (1 cup) currants
150g (1 cup) pitted dates, finely chopped
1 x 100g pkt red glace cherries, quartered
75g (1/2 cup) Ocean Spray craisins
75g (1/2 cup) dried pineapple, finely chopped
50g (1/4 cup) mixed peel
185ml (3/4 cup) brandy
2 tsp finely grated orange rind
Melted butter, to grease
250g butter, at room temperature
200g (1 cup, firmly packed) brown sugar
4 eggs
300g (2 cups) plain flour
2 tsp mixed spice
Blanched almonds, to decorate
Red glace cherries, extra, halved, to decorate
2 tbs brandy, extra

Method
Combine sultanas, raisins, currants, dates, cherries, craisins, pineapple, mixed peel, brandy and orange rind in a large bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and set aside, stirring occasionally, for 2 days to macerate.

Preheat oven to 150°C. Brush a round 22cm (base measurement) cake pan with melted butter to lightly grease. Line the base and side with 3 layers of non-stick baking paper.

Use an electric beater to beat butter and sugar in a bowl until pale and creamy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well between each addition until just combined.

Add butter mixture to fruit mixture and stir to combine. Add flour and mixed spice and stir until well combined. Spoon into prepared pan and smooth the surface. Lightly tap pan on benchtop to release any air bubbles. Arrange almonds and cherries on top of the cake.

Bake in oven, covered with foil, for 2 hours 40 minutes to 3 hours or until a skewer inserted into centre comes out clean. Drizzle hot cake with extra brandy.

Set aside to cool before turning out.

Note:- Instead of the Eggs you can use a cake batter easily available in market.