Cider Apple Christmas Cake

Cider Apple Christmas Cake

Ingredients :
600g raisins
375g dried figs or prunes, chopped
350g glace cherries
2 small dessert apples (120g) peeled, cored and grated
700ml scrumpy (or other cider)
4 level tsp mixed spice
200g unsalted butter, softened
175g dark soft brown sugar
3 large eggs
150g ground almonds
275g plain flour
2 level tsp baking powder

Method :
1. A day before baking the cake, preheat the oven to 180C (160C fan-assisted)/350F.
2. Put the fruit, scrumpy and spice in a casserole, cover with foil and bake for an hour and a half. Remove the foil for the last 15 minutes.

3. Cover, and leave on a worktop overnight. You should be left with plump fruit and little juice.

4. Next day, double or triple line a 20-25cm square deep cake tin with baking parchment.
5. Beat the butter and sugar, beat in the eggs, then fold in the fruit and nuts.
6. Sift the flour and baking powder, and beat through.
7. Spoon into the tin (decorate the top with nuts if you like).

Cover with foil and bake at 160C (150C fan-assisted)/325F for 40 minutes, then remove the foil and bake for 40 minutes more until a skewer comes out clean.