Christmas Fruit Cake

Name: Christmas Fruit Cake
Ingredients: 1/3 cup golden raisins; 1/3 cup raisins; 1/3 cup dried cranberries; 1/3 cup currants; 1/4 cup brandy; 1/3 cup chopped candied apricots; 1/3 cup chopped candied pineapple; 14 tbsp (1 3/4 sticks) butter, chopped, at room temperature; 1/2 cup packed brown sugar; 3 None eggs; 1 None orange, peel finely grated; 2 1/2 cups flour; 1 tsp baking powder; 1 tsp ground cinnamon; 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice; 1/2 cup orange juice; 2/3 cup chopped pecans; None None Candied fruit and blanched whole almonds, to decorate

18 ingredients

6 steps

Ingredients

1/3 cup golden raisins
1/3 cup raisins
1/3 cup dried cranberries
1/3 cup currants
1/4 cup brandy
1/3 cup chopped candied apricots
1/3 cup chopped candied pineapple
14 tbsp (1 3/4 sticks) butter, chopped, at room temperature
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
3 None eggs
1 None orange, peel finely grated
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1/2 cup orange juice
2/3 cup chopped pecans
None None Candied fruit and blanched whole almonds, to decorate

Directions

1

Mix raisins, dried cranberries, currants and brandy in a large bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and let stand for 3 hours or overnight. Stir in candied apricots and pineapple.
2

Preheat the oven to 300°F. Lightly grease an 8 inch square cake pan. Line the bottom and sides of the pan with two layers of parchment paper, making sure it comes 1 inch above the rim of the pan.
3

Beat butter and sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in fruit mixture and orange peel.
4

Sift flour, baking powder and spices into a bowl. Add 1/2 to the batter and mix well. Stir in 1/2 the orange juice and pecans. Fold in remaining flour, orange juice and pecans.
5

Pour carefully into prepared pan (make sure to pack into corners), smoothing top. Decorate with candied fruit and almonds.
6

Bake for 2 1/2 - 2 3/4 hours, until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean and dry. Cover cake with clean tea towels and cool completely. Remove from pan and wrap tightly in plastic wrap and foil.