fruit cake.

[MikeLitoris]

I've been asked to make a 10inch fruit cake. Never done it before. Looked on line and there are eleventy billion different recipes!

Any suggestions for a easy one to make and a rough idea of how mch ingredients are going to cost?

Thanks.

Hiya Mike, i made two earlier this month, used an Alan Dunn recipe which i used when i made a 12 inch in June, the only thing i added extra was some gravy browning as i like my cake really dark, i can give you the recipe if you want, fruit cakes are never cheap so make sure its the one you want to use.

Its costly because i bought brandy to soak the fruit and also put in after, this recipe uses ground almonds, i love it and wait to sit down after xmas with a slice and a cuppa.

Yes I'll have the recipe thanks nanny

How much brandy will it need? Could I use cherry brandy?

Rough idea on the cost of ingredients?

Sorry for the twenty questions. I"ve never been a fruit cakey kind of person tbh.

Ok Mike this is for a 12inch square tin, so you will have enough over to make a smaller cake.

1kg of raisins
1kg of sultanas
250grms cherries
125grms chopped apricots.
tub of mixed peel
zest and juice of 1orange
200ml brandy of whatever you want to use
500grm butter room temp
250 dark brown and the same for light brown sugar
4tsp apricot jam
8tsp golden syrup
1tsp each of ground ginger,allspice,nutmeg, cloves and ciniamon
500 grm plain flour
250grms ground almonds
10eggs.

Phew sounds alot. i mix all the fruit with the brandy except the cherries as i coat those in flour( leave to plump up if poss) i also do this in a bowl i keep for mixing as it is a large amount.

cream butter and sugars,gradually, stir in jams and spices, mix together almonds and flour,add eggs alternating with the flour mix, then add to the fruit, also i add agood few tbsp of gravy browning, cook on gas 2/140/ for 4-6 hrs ish.

hope this helps.

Thanks nan.

Are those fresh cherries?

No, they will be glace cherries.

You might like to read this Delia recipe for Christmas cake as she explains everything in detail.

No Mike , glace cherries you find in a tub with all the rest of the dried fruit.