It just isn’t Christmas without a slice of fruit-laden comforting Christmas cake! This modern recipe is an elegant addition to the most delicious day of the year!

Prep:
40 min + overnight soaking
Cook:
3 hours
Serves:
8-10

Ingredients

  1. 4 2/3 cups (745g) mixed dried fruit

  2. 1 1/2 (240g) dried figs

  3. 1 cup (125g) glace cherries

  4. 100g blanched almonds

  5. 1 tsp Lemon Zest

  6. 2 tbsp (40ml) rum

  7. 2 tbsp (40ml) brandy

  8. 2 tsp Queen Vanilla Bean Paste

  9. 2 tsp Queen Natural Rosewater Essence

  10. 100ml fresh orange juice

  11. 250g butter

  12. 1 1/4 cups (200g) brown sugar

  13. 4 large eggs

  14. 2 1/4 cups (340g) plain flour

  15. 1/4 cup (40g) self raising flour

  16. 1 tsp nutmeg

  17. Queen Ready to Roll Icing White

  18. Fresh (or dry) cranberries, to serve

  19. Rosemary sprigs, to serve

Method

  1. Step 1

    Combine all fruit, almonds, all Queen essences and orange juice in a large bowl. Cover and leave overnight to soak.

  2. Step 2

    Line a loaf tin with 2 layers of brown paper and then a layer of baking paper, leaving a 7cm overhang. Preheat the oven to 130C (fan-forced).

  3. Step 3

    Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time beating well after each addition.

  4. Step 4

    Sift together flours, salt and spices. Fold in the fruit and flour mixtures alternately into the butter mixture. Mix well. Spoon into prepared tin, smooth top. Decorate with extra almonds.

  5. Step 5

    Bake in oven for about 3 hours or until skewer inserted in center comes out clean, covering loosely with foil if almonds are browning too quickly. Allow to cool in tin for 30 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

  6. Step 6

    Once cake is cold, knead Fondant icing until smooth and roll out to 1cm thickness and using a knife, cut one large piece to the length of the cake and two pieces in the shape of a star. Use a little jam or sugar syrup to brush the cake, then apply icing. Finish with cranberries, rosemary and dust with icing sugar before serving.

We love Dr.Oetker Ready to Roll Icing. See their full range on the Dr.Oetker Australia website.

For more great ways to decorate with Ready to Roll Icing, click here.

If using Queen Cinnamon Baking Paste, incorporate paste into wet ingredients.

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