Christmas Cake Australian
Ingredients
- 3 cups raisins
- 3 cups sultanas
- 2 cups currants
- 1/2 cup mixed peel
- 1/2 cup glace cherries
- 1/2 cup sliced almonds
- 1 cup brandy
- 400 grams butter or margarine
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 tablespoons marmalade
- 3 cups plain flour
- 2 tablespoons cocoa
- 1 tablespoon parisienne essence
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- mixed spice and nutmeg
- 8 eggs
- pinch salt
Instructions
Soak fruit and almonds in brandy overnight. Cream butter and sugar, add marmalade , cocoa, spices, salt and essence, then eggs. Pour mixture in with fruit adding salt, flour, and baking powder. Pour in 2 x 9" pans lined with greaseproof paper. Place aluminum foil with a pleat over pans and prick several holes in it. Start cooking at 375 degrees and decrease 25 degrees every half hour until 325 degrees. Cook 2 1/2 to 3 hours. Cakes are cooked when a skewer comes out clean. Cool in pans with foil over top. Store wrapped in foil.
