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Classic
Ingredients
#
Method
Timer
Est. Time
1
Place all the dried fruit, including cherries, into a large mixing bowl
Christmas Fruit Cake
03:00
2
Pour brandy over the fruit and stir in the orange zest
Christmas Fruit Cake
02:00
3
Cover the bowl with clingfilm and leave to soak for three days, stirring daily
Christmas Fruit Cake
72:00:00
4
Grease and line a 23cm/9in deep round tin with a double layer of greased greaseproof paper
Christmas Fruit Cake
05:00
5
Preheat the oven to 140C/120C Fan/Gas 1
Christmas Fruit Cake
01:00
6
Measure the butter, sugar, eggs, treacle, and almonds into a very large bowl and beat well
Christmas Fruit Cake
04:00
7
Add the flour and ground mixed spice, then mix thoroughly until blended
Christmas Fruit Cake
03:00
8
Stir in the soaked fruit
Christmas Fruit Cake
02:00
9
Spoon the mixture into the prepared tin and level the surface
Christmas Fruit Cake
02:00
10
Bake in the oven for 4-4½ hours or until golden brown and a skewer comes out clean
Christmas Fruit Cake
04:00:00
11
Leave the cake to cool in the tin
Christmas Fruit Cake
01:00:00
12
Pierce the cooled cake with a fine skewer and feed with brandy
Christmas Fruit Cake
03:00
13
Wrap the cake in greaseproof paper and foil, and store in a cool place for up to three months
Christmas Fruit Cake
05:00
14
Feed the cake with brandy at intervals
Christmas Fruit Cake
03:00
15
Brush the sides and top of the cake with warm apricot jam
Marzipan Cake Covering
03:00
16
Roll out marzipan to about 5cm/2in larger than the surface of the cake
Marzipan Cake Covering
05:00
17
Lift the marzipan over the cake and smooth it onto the top and sides
Marzipan Cake Covering
05:00
18
Trim excess marzipan if needed
Marzipan Cake Covering
02:00
19
Cover the cake loosely with baking parchment and leave to dry for a few days
Marzipan Cake Covering
48:00:00
20
Whisk egg whites in a large bowl until frothy
Cake Icing
03:00
21
Mix in sifted icing sugar a tablespoonful at a time
Cake Icing
03:00
22
Stir in lemon juice and glycerine, then beat until stiff peaks form
Cake Icing
03:00
23
Cover the icing tightly with clingfilm and store in a cool place
Cake Icing
01:00
24
Spread the icing over the top and sides of the cake with a palette knife
Cake Icing
05:00
25
Rough up the icing with a smaller palette knife for a snow-peak effect
Cake Icing
03:00
26
Leave the cake loosely covered overnight for the icing to harden
Cake Icing
12:00:00