As it's nearing the dreaded xmas it's about time I started on my yearly fruit cakes..
Basic recipe for one cake is:
150g Brown Sugar
300g Mixed fruit
100g Glacé Cherries
100g Margarine or Butter
150g Pineapple Chunks (drained)
175ml Pineapple Juice
2 Eggs
200g Self Raising Flour
Mix sugar, fruit, cherries, butter, pineapple and juice in a large pan, bring to a slow boil and simmer for at least 10 minutes.. Then allow to cool.
Once cool mix in eggs and flour and place in a lined tin. Bake at 160c (no idea of gas mark) for about 90-120 minutes (put a knife or skewer in the middle and if it comes out clean it's done)
Although that's the basic recipe I love to play.. I add a load more cherries and some mixed peel, I use molasses sugar instead of plain brown sugar and also add things like crystallised ginger, walnuts..etc.. or layer the top with whole or flaked Almonds
It keeps well especially if you poke it with a skewer a lot of times from the top and add a cap full of Whiskey, brandy or rum once a day for a couple of weeks
