Last-minute Christmas cake

Name: Last-minute Christmas cake
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 2 h 30 min
Total time: 4 h 40 min
Yield: Serves: about 20
Ingredients: 1 packet ready made white marzipan; ½ jar ‘no bits’ apricot jam; icing sugar, for rolling; 1 packet ready-to-roll white icing; 6 eggs; 250 g dark brown sugar; 300 g plain flour; 100 g whole almonds; 2 teaspoons ground ginger; 2 lemons, grated zest; 250 g butter; 1 tablespoon cinnamon; 150 g dried figs, finely chopped; 1 kg mixed dried fruit; 250 ml brandy or port; 200 g dried apricots, finely chopped; 200 g prunes, stoned and finely chopped

Preparation info

Serves: about
20

Difficulty
Medium
Ready in
5 hr

Appears in

Lucy's Food

By Lucy Cufflin

Published 2013

About

I have yet to be organised in time to make a traditional cake for Christmas. Because the fruit in this recipe is soaked ahead the flavours are immediately mature. The cake does get better over time, but it tastes delicious even if made only a week before the big day!

Ingredients

200 g dried apricots, finely chopped
200 g prunes, stoned and finely chopped
150

Cake
Christmas
Vegetarian

Method

Line the cake tin with baking parchment. Place all the dried fruit and lemon zest into a bowl with the brandy/port, ginger and cinnamon. Stir together, cover with cling film and microwave for 5 minutes on full power. Leave to soak for 1 hour.
Beat the butter and sugar until smooth. Add the eggs, one at a time, and then fold in the flour and almonds. Add the soa