Rich Fruit Cake #glutenfree #glutenfreebaking #Christmas

With Christmas just around the corner, it is time to bake your Christmas cake. Treat your guests during the festive season, or give this classic cake as a gift to family or friends. Begin your preparations now as this rich fruit cake can keep up to 3 months in a cool place, and it will be richer in flavour and even more delicious after 2 weeks. 

 Ingredients:

150g Butter - softened
1/3 cup Brown Sugar*
4 large Eggs
1 cup gluten-free Plain Flour
1 cup gluten-free Self Raising Flour
1 tablespoon Mixed Spice
250g Walnut or Pecan Nuts
1/2 cup Brandy, extra

A: 

1/4 cup Hot Water
2 tablespoons Jam (Any flavour is suitable, I use plum jam )
1 tablespoon Instant Coffee

B:

Stand overnight

1 kg Mixed Dried Fruit 
250g glace cherries
200g Pitted Prunes - halved
1/2 cup Brandy
1/3 cup Sweet Sherry or Port
1/3 cup Honey or Treacle
Combine all ingredients B, cover and stand overnight.

Method:

Preheat oven to 140C
Grease and double line a 24cm deep baking tin with baking paper. If possible, use a square tin as it is easier to slice.
Sift flour and mixed spice 3 times.
Mix ingredients A together, set aside to cool.

In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until soft and creamy. 
Add eggs one by one.
Add ingredients A.
Pour 2/3 of dry ingredients in the mixture. Mix well.
Drain the ingredients B.  
Add into the mixture with remaining 1/3 of dry ingredients.
Mix well and pour into the baking tin. 
Spread and smooth the top with plastic spatula. 
Bake at 140C for 1 hour. Reduce to 130C for another 1- 1.5 hours until a skewer comes out of the middle totally clean 
Remove cake from oven. 
Brush the top with extra brandy.
Cover with a dry tea towel or aluminum foil.
Allow to cool in the tin overnight.
Turn out from tin. 
Remove the baking paper.
Brush whole cake with brandy, then wrap with aluminum foil and put into fridge or cold place.
* I only use 1/4 cup sugar as the fruit is already very sweet, but you can add more sugar if you like.

Tips:
Whisky can be used to replace Brandy
Cut the cake when it is just removed from fridge. Allow to come to room temperature.

Contact: lee.leehocklai@gmail.com