Fruitcake (especially at Christmas time)

Fruitcake is a traditional dessert in England, especially during the holiday season. It is a rich and dense cake filled with dried fruits and nuts, often soaked in alcohol. Here is a recipe for a classic British Christmas Fruitcake:

Ingredients:

1. 450g mixed dried fruits (such as raisins, currants, sultanas, mixed peel, and cherries)
2. 75g glace cherries, quartered
3. 125g unsalted butter, softened
4. 125g dark muscovado sugar
5. 3 large eggs
6. 1 tsp vanilla extract
7. 175g plain flour
8. 1 tsp mixed spice
9. 1/2 tsp cinnamon
10. 1/2 tsp baking powder
11. 75g ground almonds
12. 3 tbsp brandy or rum
13. additional brandy or rum, for feeding the cake

Instructions:

Preheat the stove to 140°C (120°C fan)/275°F/gas mark 1. Oil and line a 20cm/8in round cake tin with baking material.

In a huge bowl, combine as one the blended dried foods grown from the ground cherries. Add 2 tablespoons of cognac or rum and mix well.

In a different bowl, cream together the mellowed margarine and dull muscovado sugar until light and soft. Beat in the eggs, each in turn, and afterward add the vanilla concentrate.

Filter in the flour, blended flavor, cinnamon, and baking powder. Add the ground almonds and blend until recently consolidated.

Fold in the fruit mixture and stir gently until evenly distributed.

Spoon the mixture into the prepared cake tin and smooth the surface with a spatula. Bake in the preheated oven for 3-4 hours, or until a skewer inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.

Once the cake is cooked, remove it from the oven and leave it to cool in the tin for 10 minutes before turning it out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

While the cake is still warm, use a skewer to make small holes all over the surface of the cake. Drizzle 2-3 tablespoons of brandy or rum over the surface of the cake, allowing it to soak in.

Wrap the cake tightly in baking parchment and foil, and store it in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. Every week, unwrap the cake and drizzle with additional brandy or rum.

On the day of serving, decorate the top of the fruitcake with marzipan and icing, or serve it plain with a dusting of icing sugar.

Enjoy your delicious homemade Christmas Fruitcake, a classic British dessert for the holiday season!