Beginners Christmas Cake - Recipe

• Make weeks ahead to save time and stress!
• Can easily be mixed by hand.
• Dairy free, no cane sugar, lower in fat.
• Makes a 20cm/8inch deep round cake.

ingredients    Organic Mixed Vine Fruit 1kg (Sussex Wholefoods) 775g Mixed Vine Fruit    Organic White Spelt Flour 1kg (Doves Farm) 250g White Spelt Flour    Organic Mild & Odourless Coconut Oil Cuisine 610ml (Biona) 155g Deodorised Coconut Butter    Organic Coconut Sugar 1kg (Sussex Wholefoods) 250g Coconut Sugar    Organic Chestnut Puree, Unsweetened 300g (Organico) 1 Jar Chestnut Puree    Borwicks Baking Powder 100g ½ tsp of Baking Powder

Other Ingredients

• 125ml Spiced Dark Rum, plus extra for 'feeding'*.
• Juice and zest of 1 orange.
• Juice and zest of 1 lemon.
• 3 large eggs, beaten.

Method

1. Double line your cake tin with grease proof paper/baking parchment and a skirt of brown parcel paper tied with string. Ensure both the grease proof paper and the brown paper are double the height of the cake tin to help prevent the sides and top from burning/becoming too dark whilst baking.
2. Put the Mixed Vine Fruit, Chestnut Puree, Coconut Sugar, Coconut Oil, Lemon Zest, Lemon Juice, Orange Zest, Orange Juice, Spiced Rum and Stollen Spice in a large wide-based saucepan.
3. Bring to a simmer and stir gently allowing the butter to melt and the flavours to infuse. Simmer for around 10 minutes.
4. Transfer into a large mixing bowl and allow to cool for 30 minutes. Stir a few times to help with cooling.
5. In the meantime, pre-heat the oven to 150°c Fan/ Gas Mark 3.
6. Then stir in the flour and baking powder and finally the beaten eggs.
7. Combine thoroughly and pour gently into your cake tin.
8. Bake in the centre of the oven for 1¾ hrs - 2 hours or until a skewer comes out a little sticky when inserted into the centre of the cake and the surface has developed small cracks.
9. Once a fortnight 'feed' the cake with 2-3 tablespoons of Spiced Rum. Using a skewer make several holes into the cake and gently pour over a little rum. Allow this to sink in and then repeat. We used a disposable plastic pipette to make this process easier.
10. The cake can be covered in marzipan and/or icing immediately if you need it or in a few weeks depending on the timing of your celebration.