Christmas cake does not have to be expensive: economical fruit cake is ideal when suitably decorated.
ingredients
makes 10 - 12 slices
1 cup margarine
1 1/4 cups soft brown sugar
2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon Baking soda
1 teaspoon pie spice
pinch of grated nutmeg
grated rind of 1/2 lemon
4 large eggs
a few drops of vanilla extract
a few drops of almond extract
1 tablespoon marmalade
2/3 cup currants
1/2 pound each raisins and Seedless white raisins or 1 pound raisins
method
1. Heat the oven to 150°C (300°F). Grease and line a deep 8 inch cake pan. Tie a double thickness of brown paper around it.
2. Cream the margarine and sugar together until light and fluffy. Sift in the flour, soda and spices and fold in, with the lemon rind.
3. Beat the eggs with the extracts and marmalade and add to the creamed mixture. Fold in the fruit until evenly distributed.
4. Pour into the cake pan. Level the top and make a slight hollow in the centre.
5. Put a thick piece of newspaper on a baking sheet and place the cake pan on the sheet.
6. Bake for 4 hours. When the cake colours, cover with foil. Cool in the tin.
more information
Cooking time: 4 1/4 hours
