Caryl’s Recipe Collection – Christmas Cake

My Story…

It’s that time of the year again when we womenfolk generally wish it was all over before it even began, but never-the-less it is a wise woman (or man) who has a few ‘stand-by’s’ in the cupboard for the holiday season.

This fruit cake is just one of them, besides some other recipes you have already had earlier in the year from me.

Just a few hours of prep will save you a lot of time when you have guests over. Make this fruit cake and a batch of crunchies put a few quiches in the deep freeze and away you go to enjoy time with your family. Even banana bread freezes beautifully, so when you bake or cook something make 2 or 3 extra and freeze some, or store in an airtight container.

My mom always baked more than one fruit cake around this time of the year. She kept one for our family as it was my dad’s favorite and then gave the others to neighbors or those in need in our church circle. Then of course she also made boiled fruit Xmas puddings, with ‘tickies‘ in them! This we had for Xmas dessert with brandy sauce or custard. Mom always had a few extra ‘tickies’ hidden near her at the table in case one of us children couldn’t find a ‘tickie’ in our portion! I wonder how much a ‘tickie’ is worth now? As a little girl, it seemed to be an enormous amount of money!!

My Recipe – Fruit Cake

• 500g fruit cake mix; 125g butter
• 250ml sugar; 1tsp bicarb
• 1tsp cinnamon; 1 ½ cups cold water

Method

• Put all of the above into a large pot, bring to boil, and simmer slowly for 10 minutes
• Add 100g cherries and 100g pecan nuts to the mixture and allow to cool slightly.
• Add 2 cups flour, 1 heaped tsp baking powder, and 2 eggs. Mix well by hand.
• Pour into a paper-lined baking tin and bake at 160° for 1 ¾ hour. Pierce with a skewer to see if the cake is done.
• Brandy can be poured over the cake (optional) when it comes out of the oven. Leave to cool in the tin.
• The cake may be iced or decorate as desired depending on your family’s taste. I used marzipan, ‘plastic’ icing, and royal icing to pipe around edges.

Enjoyed with any of Esona wines

Rowans comment: My favourite cake, but will have to wait until Xmas!!