Advent Day 4 - Rosie's Christmas cake

Passed down from my sister-in-law’s grandad and always tastes good.

Ingredients

175 g currants
225 g raisins
225 g sultanas
100 g glace cherries quartered
100 g mixed peel
50 g chopped almonds
225 g plain flour
1 tsp mixed spice
1 tsp cinnamon
225 g softened butter/margarine
225 g dark brown sugar (not demerara)
1 tbl sp black treacle
4 large eggs
1-2 tbl sp brandy

8” round cake tin

Method

Soak the fruit, almonds & peel in brandy for 24-48 hours
Cream the butter and sugar together
Add the eggs one at a time with a tablespoon of flour
Add the remaining flour and spices
Mix well

Add the soaked fruit to the mixture and when mixed add the black treacle and mix again.
Grease and line an 8” round cake tin and spoon in the mixture.
Tie newspaper/brown paper around the outside of the tin

Bake at gas mk2/150°C/300°F for 3½- 4 hours.

Once cooked turn the oven out and leave the cake in whilst the oven cools
Decorate with marzipan and icing as you like.