last minute Christmas cake
Serves: 10 people
Preparation Time: 1½ hours, plus up to two days chilling time.
Cooking time: 3½ hours - 4½ hours
Ingredients
For the cake
500g mixed dried fruit e.g. sultanas, raisins, currants
100g ready to eat apricots, chopped
100g dates, chopped
50g dried cranberries
150g glace cherries, halved
225ml cold black tea, made from two Cafédirect Gold tea bags
100ml whisky or brandy
75ml orange juice
1 orange, zest only
2 tbsp black treacle
200g butter, slightly soft
200g muscovado sugar
250g plain flour
1 heaped tsp baking powder
5 eggs, lightly beaten
1 1/2 tsp mixed spice
75g chopped nuts
To cover the cake
450g marzipan
Sifted icing sugar
4 tbsp apricot jam
1 kg ready rolled fondant icing