• SECTION A
• Cake Flour  – 230g
• Mixed Spice – 1 teaspoon
• Cinnamon Powder – 1 teaspoon
• Baking Powder – 1 teaspoon
• Salt – ½ teaspoon
  
  SECTION B
  Vanilla Extract -1 teaspoon
• Soft Dark Sugar – 100g
• Molasses – 3 tablespoons
• Butter – 230g
• Water – 200ml

• SECTION C
  Raisins / Cranberries – 100g
• Pecan Nuts – 100g
• Mixed Dried Fruit – 250g

• SECTION D
  Free Range Eggs – 3
• Lemon Zest – 1 Large

• SECTION E
  Fresh Orange Juice – 1 cup
• Water – 1 cup
• White Sugar – 200g

METHOD:

1. Grease a  7 inch / 15cm cake tin and line with greaseproof paper (double thickness if you wish).
2. Sift all of the ingredients in Section A into a mixing bowl and set aside.
3. Place all of the ingredients in Section B into a medium sized sauce pan, set aside.
4. Roughly chop all of the ingredients of Section C and place into the pan containing Section B.
5. Place the pan onto the stove and bring the ingredients up to the boil, then simmer gently for 3 or 4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and allow to cool completely.
6. Preheat oven to 160 degrees celcius.
7. Mix the 3 eggs with a fork in a small bowl. Once the fruit mix has cooled down, add the eggs to the mix, and stir until combined.
8. Add the sifted dry ingredients into the fruit mix and stir until well combined.
9. Pour the batter into your prepared cake tin, place in the centre of the oven and bake for about 80 minutes or until ready (inserted skewer to come out hot against your lips)
10. Place all the ingredients of Section E into a medium sauce pan and bring to a good simmer, allowing the liquids to become syrupy due to the sugar content. Once a syrup consistency is reached, then remove from heat and set aside.
11. Pour the syrup over the cake that is cooling in its tin and allow to absorb. Leave the cake in its tin with the syrup overnight to completely cool and moisten.
12. This cake is now ready to be enjoyed at any stage during the holiday season, bearing in mind the longer you leave it, the better it becomes, so it’s the perfect cake to prepare a week or before Xmas and then enjoy on the day.
13. You could also pour some brandy or cognac over the cake and set it alight for when you’d like to enjoy it with your loved ones.
14. Have fun and enjoy!!