Mum's Christmas Cake

For everyone who wants the perfect Christmas Cake here is the Recipe.I also did a Video,I apologise now for the quality of the video,its not something I have done before...hahaha I have to Laugh at my self.

Here's the Recipe:
350g/12oz self-raising flour
1 tsp mixed spice
100g/4oz ground almonds
500g/18oz mixed dried fruit with peel
100g/4oz dried cranberries
100g/4oz of halved cherries
100g/4oz chopped nuts
4 eggs beaten this year I used Free range Duck eggs
6 tbs milk
2 tbs brandy or rum-I used Cuban Rum
225g/8oz butter
10g/4 oz Caster sugar
100g/4 oz of dark brown sugar

1.Sift the flour with the mixed spice the mix in the ground almonds.
2.Clean the dried fruit in a separate bowl.
3.In another bowl stir the beaten eggs ,milk and brand together.
4.In a large bowl cream the butter and sugars until light and fluffy,then stir in the flour a bit at a time with some of the egg mixture until all the ingredients combine to form a smooth batter.
5.Gradually stir in all the dried fruit and cherries and nuts,mix thoroughly.
6.Spoon in the mixture into a 20-22cm/8 inch cake tin which has been lined with greaseproof paper.
7.Preheat oven to 160c/325f/gas mark 3 bake for 1 hour then reduce heat to 150c/300f/gas mark 1-2 and continue to bake for another 3 hours.For Fan assisted ovens bake at 160c for 45 mins and 2 hours at 150 c.

The secret is then once cooled pour small amounts of the brandy or Rum onto  the top of the cake for three days then turn the cake upside down and do this for another three days keep wrapped in foil whilst "feeding the cake" with rum or brandy this process can be repeated over a couple of weeks.Then place the cake on to a cake board marzipan the cake then use royal icing or fondant "ready roll" icing to decorate the cake and add other cake decorations to your hearts content leave to set for Christmas!


The next Stage is the Marzipan followed by the icing and decorating and I promise to share each stage with you all so you can follow along if you decide to give this a go.