How to make a Fruit Cake

You will need:

200g Sultanas

200g Raisins

100g Candied peel (or substitute Sultanas, Raisins and Candied peel for 500g mixed fruit)

200g Chopped Apple (Approx 1 large or 2 small)

1 Orange (or substitute for 4tbsp orange juice)

Half a Lemon (or substitute for 1.5tbsp lemon juice)

225g Self Raising Flour

150g Brown Sugar

3 Eggs

1 tsp Mixed Spice

Half tsp Cinnamon

Half tsp Ginger

5tbsp Brandy (optional)

Method:

1. Firstly in a bowl, add your Sultanas, Raisins and Candied Peel (or mixed fruit) and add the zest and juice of both the lemon and orange. Give it a good mix, then cover and leave to soak for about an hour. (After an hour give it another mix to distribute the liquid)

2. In a separate bowl, cream together your butter and sugar.

3. Then add your eggs and mix well.

4. Add your mixed spice, cinnamon and ginger and again mix.

5. Add the flour and mix until it is a batter. It will be quite a thick mixture.

6. Then add the apple (chopped well) and the fruit mix. Mix until all the fruit is well covered.

7. Then put in a prelined and greased cake tin (I used a 7 inch tin).

8. In a preheated oven at Gas Mark 3, 170C, 150 Fan bake for 1 hour 30 mins to 2 hours of until a skewer comes out clean.

9. Then as an optional, with the cake slightly cooled, poke holes in the top and drizzle in the brandy.