Christmas Fruit Cake

Preparation 30 Minutes

Cook 30 Minutes

Serves 12

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Method

Pre-heat oven to 150°C (130°C fan-forced). Use an oil spray to grease a deep bunting cake tin. 

Combine mixed fruit, raisins, dates and currants in a large saucepan. Add water and port, mix through.

Place over a low heat for 5 minutes until liquid is absorbed and fruit softened.

Set aside to cool.

Using electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar together until creamy. Add eggs one at a time until all incorporated. 

Fold in flours and spices. Remove from mixing stand and fold in the fruit mixture with a large spoon.

Mixing until well combined. Spoon batter into prepared bunting cake tin and tap on counter to remove air bubbles and ensure bater has filled the tin evenly. 

Bake for 2 hours or until an inserted skewer comes out clean. 

Allow to cool in the cake tin placed on wet tea towel before removing to a cooling rack to cool completely. 

**To serve drizzle with your favourite glaze by mixing 1 cup of icing sugar & 2 tbsp lemon juice

Ingredients

375g pkt SUNBEAM Mixed Fruit

375g pkt SUNBEAM Raisins

1 cup SUNBEAM Currants

200g Angas Park Diced Dates

¾ cup water

½ cup port

250g butter, diced and softened

1 cup brown sugar

4 eggs

2 cups plain flour

½ cup self raising flour

2 tsp mixed spice

1 tsp ground ginger

OPTIONAL:

To serve drizzle with white citrus glaze by mixing 1 cup of icing sugar & 2 tbsp lemon juice

Recipe Collection

Chocolate Easter Nests

Pre-heat oven to 180°C (160°C). Place almonds on a baking tray and cook for 8 minutes or until golden. Set aside to cool.

Line a tray with baking paper which will fit into the refrigerator. Combine the almonds and sultanas in a bowl.

Place the different chocolates into 3 separate heat proof bowls. Place over a saucepan of gently simmering water and mix until melted. Add ⅓ of the almond mixture to each bowl of chocolate and mix well.

Place spoonfuls of mixture onto lined trays and shape into a nest, using the back of the spoon to make an indent in the centre. Refrigerate for approx. 1 hour until set. Decorate with small easter eggs.

Chocolate Puddings with Sherry Raisins

  1. Pre-heat oven to 160°C (140°C fan-forced). Lightly grease 6 x ¾ cup capacity muffin pans. Place butter, sugar, raisins and sherry in a saucepan and heat, stirring occasionally until butter has melted. Allow to cool.

  2. Mix eggs through raisin mixture and then fold in the flour, almond meal, cocoa and spice. Pour between prepared pans and bake for 30 minutes. Allow to cool for 10 minutes in pan before removing.

  3. Use a small spatula to help remove puddings from pans and serve with custard and cream.


    Puddings can be made in advance and re-heated briefly in a microwave to warm through.

Christmas Pudding

Greese 2 small or 1 large basin.

Mix all the dry ingredients together. Fill the mixture into the basins, or if preferred a well seasoned pudding cloth. Place 2 thicknesses of foil over the basins and tie securly.

Boil steadily for 6 hours for the lrge pudding and 4 hours for the small. On the day pudding is to be served, boil for 1 hour.

Fancy Fruit and Nut Cake

Preheat oven to 150°C

  1. Grease a standard loaf tin (21 x 13cm or larger). Line base and sides with baking paper, extending paper 6cm above rim to form a collar.
  2. Coarsely chop half the nuts, glacé fruit and cherries and place in a large bowl (reserve the remainder of each for topping). Add raisins and dates and stir to combine.
  3. Sift flours and cinnamon, then stir 1⁄4 cup into the fruit mixture.
  4. Beat eggs, sugar, 2 tablespoons of brandy and rind together until light. Add remaining flour and stir to combine, then fold through fruit mixture. Spoon into prepared tin/s and press down with back of a spoon.
  5. Cut remaining glacé fruits into quarters. Press gently on top of cake along with whole nuts and whole cherries.
  6. Cover top of cake with paper bag or baking paper, resting on the collar. Bake large cake for 11⁄2-13⁄4 hours or until an inserted skewer comes out clean. Cool in tin.
  7. Place apricot conserve and remaining brandy in a small saucepan. Simmer, stirring for 3 minutes. Strain, then brush over cake. To serve, cut into thick slices.

Sultana Cinnamon Mini Muffins

Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C fan-forced). Line two 12-hole (1-tablespoon/20ml) mini muffin pans with paper cases. Combine flour, brown sugar, oats and sultanas in medium bowl. Whisk milk, melted butter and egg in small bowl, stir into dry ingredients (do not overmix, mixture should be lumpy).

Divide mixture into paper cases. Bake about 15 minutes, turn, top-side up, onto wire rack. Combine caster sugar with cinnamon, sprinkle over hot muffins.

Chocolate Bunny Cakes (Gluten Free)

  1. Pre-heat oven to 180°C (160°C). Line 10 x ⅓ cup capacity muffin pans with paper cases.
  2. Place eggs, honey, oil and vanilla in a large mixing bowl. Beat well with electric beaters for 2 minutes. Fold in the almond meal, flour, cocoa and baking powder until mixture is well combined. Stir in the sultanas.
  3. Spoon mixture between paper cases and bake for 22-24 minutes until cooked. Allow to cool in pan for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.
  4. For icing, beat together the cream cheese and honey until smooth. Dollop over the top of cooled cupcakes and sprinkle with coconut. Decorate with ears and nose.
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