© J Sainsbury plc 2020
Fruit cake
Soak the mixed dried fruit, cherries and mixed peel for up to 2 days before baking this classic cake
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Ready in 4 hours
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Cooking time 3 hours 30 minutes
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Prep time 30 minutes plus fruit soaking time
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Serves 24
Ingredients
- 400 g currants
- 150 g Californian seedless raisins
- 150 g sultanas
- 100 g ready-to-eat dried figs, chopped
- 100 g ready-to-eat dried prunes, chopped
- 100 g glacé cherries, chopped
- 100 g cut mixed peel
- 100 ml dark rum
- 50 ml Grand Marnier
- 2 tsp mixed spice
- Zest of 1 lemon
- Zest and juice of 1 orange
- 2 tsp orange extract
- 225 g plain flour
- 225 g salted butter, softened, plus extra for greasing
- 225 g Fairtrade dark soft brown sugar
- 4 medium free-range eggs
Method
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1
Place all the dried fruit, cherries, peel, alcohol, spice and zest in a large pan. Squeeze over the orange juice and bring to the boil. Tip into a large bowl and stir in the orange essence. Cool, then cover and set aside for 2-4 days (the longer it's left, the better the flavour), stirring daily.
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2
When ready to bake, butter a 25cm springform round cake tin and line with 2 layers of baking parchment. To protect the cake during cooking, wrap the outside of the tin with a few sheets of brown paper and secure with string. Preheat the oven to 140°C, fan 120°C, gas 1.
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3
Sift the flour twice into a large bowl. Place the butter and sugar in a separate large bowl and beat with an electric hand mixer until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, until combined. Fold the flour in gently with a large metal spoon, then fold in the soaked fruits. Spoon into the tin and level.
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4
Cut a piece of brown paper to fit just over the cake and cut a 50p-sized hole in the centre. Place on the cake to prevent over-browning. Bake for 3½-4 hours, or until a skewer inserted into the cake comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack and store in an airtight container until ready to decorate.
