Here is the recipe that so many of you asked for at the Deux Sevres get together this afternoon.
It comes from the Australian Women’s Weekly "Quick Mix Cakes"
INGREDIENTS
250G BUTTER
1 KILO OF MIXED FRUIT - RAISINS, CURRANTS, CHERRIES AND MIXED PEEL.
200 G BROWN SUGAR (NOT DEMERERA/ SUCRE DE CANNE)
125 ML WHISKY
125 ML WATER
5 EGGS
2 TEASPOONS GRATED ORANGE RIND
1 TEASPOON GRATED LEMON RIND
1 TABLESPOON BLACK TREACLE OF MOLASSES
HALF TEASPOON OF BICARBONATE OF SODA
310 G SR FLOUR - OR PLAIN FLOUR WITH BAKING POWDER.
BLANCHED WHOLE ALMONDS FOR DECORATING
YOU WILL NEED A 23 CM DEEP ROUND CAKE TIN LINED WITH THREE LAYERS OF GREASEPROOF PAPER.
METHOD
- SOAK MIXED FRUIT, EXCEPT CHERRIES IN WHISKEY FOR 30 MINUTES.
- CUT CHERRIES IN HALF AND TOSS IN A BAG WITH A FEW TEASPOONS OF FLOUR TO STOP THEM SINKING.
- PUT BUTTER, ORANGE AND LEMON PEEL, BROWN SUGAR AND WATER INTO A SAUCEPAN.
- MELT THE BUTTER AND MIX INTO THE FRUIT AND COOK GENTLY FOR 10 MINUTES.
- REMOVE FROM HEAT AND STIR IN BLACK TREACLE AND BICARB AND CHERRIES.
- LEAVE TO COOL.
- STIR IN EGGS AND MIX WELL.
- FINALLY STIR IN FLOUR - DO NOT BEAT.
- POUR MIXTURE INTO TIN AND TOP WITH BLANCHED ALMONDS - PLACE IN CIRCLES AROUND THE TOP OF THE MIXTURE
- BAKE IN A PREHEATED OVEN TEMP 130DEGREES C.
- MINE COOKED IN 3 HOURS 30MINUTES, BUT OVENS VARY. TEST AFTER 2 HRS 30 MINS WITH A METAL SKEWER - THE CAKE IS COOKED WHEN THE SKEWER COMES OUT CLEAN FROM THE CENTRE OF THE CAKE.