Last week we introduced you to the lovely Rosanne from Irish baking blog Like Mam Used To Bake. And last Sunday, we started off our baking series with some delicious banana and chocolate chip scones (you can find all the details on those here). And today we are helping you get ready to impress guests at your Christmas party with this week’s delight of Mam-favourite, the oldie-but-goodie boiled fruit cake.
I lose count of how many times a day that I walk into a room to get something only to stand there staring blankly around the room wondering why I’m there. And this forgetfulness also extends to my baking, meaning that I often forget to soak the fruit for a brack in advance of baking.
But this boiled fruit cake makes a nice alternative if like me you have that ‘what am I supposed to be doing now’ affliction. It’s quick and easy to mix together and it will fill the house with the most droolsome winter spice aroma. It also makes for a great alternative Christmas cake. But I’m sure you all have the Christmas cakes made and maturing in the press, right?
The original recipe for this is scrawled on a scrap of paper and the instructions are sparse to say the least. It was obviously something that mam had seen on telly and quickly scribbled down, or tasted and jotted down the brief instructions of the baker. I have had a little play around with the original recipe and really like the results. It is a big hit with the fruit cake lovers in the family.
- Ingredients
450g mixed dried fruit, e.g. raisins, sultanas and currants
225g unsalted butter
200g sugar
Zest of 1 orange
140ml water
280g plain flour
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½ tsp ground ginger
½ tsp mixed spice
½ tsp ground nutmeg
½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
½ tsp Salt
2 large eggs, beaten
- Method
Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas Mark 4. Line the base and sides of a 23cm/9in round tin with parchment paper.
Place the dried fruit, butter, sugar, orange zest and water in a large saucepan. Set over a high heat and boil for 10 minutes, stirring at regular intervals.
Remove the saucepan from the heat and add the flour, spices, bicarbonate of soda, salt and beaten eggs. Stir to combine all of the ingredients.
Transfer the mixture to the prepared cake tin and place in the preheated oven for 1 hour. The cake is done when a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean. Remove from the oven and allow to cool in the tin for 15 minutes before turning out and allowing to cool completely on a wire rack.
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Are you going to try out this deeelicious recipe? We’d love to see a twitter-y pic of your work so send us one to @beautie! And sure, if you’d like to send some into the office, we wouldn’t say no….
