Christmas Cake

Method

• Lightly grease the tin then line the base and sides with non-stick baking parchment.

• Measure all of the cake ingredients into a large bowl and beat well for 1 minute until thoroughly combined.  Turn into the prepared tin and level the surface.

• Bake for about 1¾ – 2 hours or until skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean and the cake is shrinking from sides of the tin.  Cover the cake with foil after 1 hour if it is beginning to brown too much.  Leave to cool in the tin for 10 minutes then turn out, peel off the parchment and finish cooling on a wire rack.

• Decorate as you wish.  I like to melt a little apricot jam, brush on cake and decorate the top with nuts and dried fruits, placing marzipan festive shapes around the cake.