Christmas Cake

Unbalanced

% Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Step 1

Soak fruits in brandy overnight or longer

Step 2

Preheat oven to 110⁰ C. Grease and line 8" tin

Step 3

Mise en place

Step 4

Cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy

Step 5

Add eggs gradually

Step 6

Stir in grated rinds and treacle

Step 7

Sift flour, salt, baking powder and spice into a separate bowl

Step 8

Fold flour mixture into egg mixture

Step 9

Fold in chopped nuts, soaked fruits and brandy

Step 10

Spoon cake mix into the prepared tin. Bake for 3 hours, covering with foil if it is browning too quickly, until the cake tests done with a skewer

Step 11

Cool on a wire rack, then store in an airtight container until ready to decorate

Step 12

Feed with brandy intermittently

Step 13

Brush cake with apricot jam and lay rolled marzipan over. Press on with hands, use icing smoother if you have one, and trim around the edges. Leave uncovered for a week to dry before icing

Step 14

Place egg whites in a bowl and lightly beat. Then add icing sugar a bit at a time beating continuously. Add liquid glucose and lemon juice. Continue beating until the icing is very thick and glossy and will stand up in peaks.

Step 15

Spread over the covered cake using a fork to give texture. Decorate with edible silver balls and ribbon