Nanna's Christmas Cake

Name: Nanna's Christmas Cake
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 3 h
Total time: 3 h 40 min
Yield: 50 serving(s)
Ingredients: 250 g butter; 250 g sultanas; 125 g glace red cherries; 375 g mixed dried fruit; 2 1/2 cups plain flour; 1/2 teaspoon baking powder; 6 eggs; 1 tablespoon parisenne spice essence; 1/4 cup brandy or 1/4 cup sherry wine; 250 g brown sugar; 250 g seeded raisins; 125 g slivered almonds; 1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda; 1 teaspoon nutmeg; 1 orange, juice and zest of; 1 pinch salt

Submitted by Pietro

"As the name suggests, this is the grandmother of all cakes. The cake has excellent keeping qualities. You can frost the cake or I like to decorate the top with blanched almond kernels and glace cherries. If you intend to keep the cake, it may tend to dry out. Just pour some sweet sherry or brandy over the top surface and it will help to regain the moisture."

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Ready In:: 3hrs 40mins
Ingredients:: 16
Serves:: 50

ingredients

250 g butter
250 g sultanas
125 g glace red cherries
375 g mixed dried fruit
2 ¹⁄₂ cups plain flour
¹⁄₂ teaspoon baking powder
6 eggs
1 tablespoon parisenne spice essence
¹⁄₄ 1/4 cup brandy or 1/4 cup sherry wine
250 g brown sugar
250 g seeded raisins
125 g slivered almonds
¹⁄₂ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 orange, juice and zest of
1 pinch salt

directions

On the first day.
Finely chop fruit and soak overnight in the alcohol,parisenne essence, orange juice and rind.
On the second day.
Pre heat oven to 160 degrees celsius.
Cream butter and sugar.
Add eggs one at a time, mix well and set aside.
Sift flour, bicarbonate soda, nutmeg, baking powder and mix through the fruit mixture.
Add the almonds and creamed mixture.
Line a 20cm x 7cm square tin with two layers of brown paper, one layer being greaseproof paper.
Bake at 160 degrees celsius for 30 minutes, then reduce the oven to 120 degrees celsius and cook for a further 150 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean.
Let cake cool in tin and then remove from tin and place on a cooling rack.

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Reviews

This Christmas Cake was outstanding. I did pour Brandy on it afterwards and my friends said they had to drink the cake it was so moist. This is identical to a cake my Grandmother in the UK always made. Bought back emories and I will keep this recipe for next time I make a rich cake. Thank you for sharing Peter.

Britgal

RECIPE SUBMITTED BY

Pietro

Australia

I live in country Western Australia, 158 kms from the City of Perth. It is an agricultural area with Mediterranean type climatic conditions. Our family has always grown fresh produce so it is easy to use fruit and vegetables that are in season. My favourite cookbooks are anything written by Antonio Carluccio, Margaret Fulton, Stephanie Alexander,Jamie Oliver and just about any other?cookbook that is full of interesting and tempting recipes. I like to experiment with food and bring out the best of flavours in any dish that I prepare. Do I love homemade Italian food? How can you live without it? But then I love Indian,Asian, Middle Eastern,European cuisines and the good old Aussie food as well. Nothing beats a good barbecue with the family and friends.

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