Seriously Epic Christmas Cake

Name: Seriously Epic Christmas Cake
Yield: Serves 12–16
Ingredients: 250 ml brandy; a little icing sugar for the worktop; 250 g currants; vodka or boiled water; 500 g white ready-to-roll icing; 1 teaspoon ground ginger; 150 g blanched whole or flaked almonds; 150 g apricot jam; 2 teaspoons almond essence; 80 g glacé cherries; 250 g dried cranberries; 500 g natural marzipan; zest of 1 lemon; 250 ml orange juice; zest of 1 orange; 100 g pitted dates, chopped; 570 g plain flour; 4 large eggs; 200 g butter; 250 g dark brown sugar; 50 g treacle; 2 teaspoons bicarbonate of soda; 2 teaspoons mixed spice; 2 teaspoons cinnamon; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 200 g sultanas; 2 tablespoons water; 250 ml whisky; 80 g crystallised ginger, chopped; 250 ml sherry

Preparation info

Serves
12–16

Difficulty
Medium

Appears in

The Mountain Cafe Cookbook

By Kirsten Gilmour

Published 2017

About

Folks that have ordered these say they are the best Christmas cakes they’ve ever had. Yes, it is a bit of a faff because you have to be organised and soak your fruit in advance, and then you need to lovingly feed the cakes alcohol for a couple of weeks. But trust me, you will be proud as punch when you pull this out on Christmas day; I guarantee you will never get a bought one that tastes this good. The recipe makes a huge cake – it will feed a big family and some of the neighbours, but it