CHRISTMAS/ WEDDING CAKE RECIPE ( ¾ pound recipe)

• 340g / ¾ lb cashew nuts
• 340g / ¾ lb peach or apricot jam ( I used apricot jam)
• 340g / ¾ lb sultanas
• 340g / ¾ lb raisins
• 170g / 6 oz ginger preserve ( I use the stuff that comes in packets )
• 170g / 6 oz glace cherries ( use red as well as the green - if available)
• 170g / 6oz candied peel ( here it is called mixed peel)
• 510g / 18 oz mixed fruit (I usually make this up with sultanas, raisins, currents,
• cashew, cherries, ginger, candied peel - use candied peel ,cashew & cherries
• more generously than sultanas or raisins).
• 
  
• 100ml brandy
• 28ml vanilla essence (can use more if you like )
• 35 ml l bottle almond essence
• 680g / 1½ lbs semolina
• 680g / 1½ lbs sugar
• 340g / ¾ lb butter
• ¼ tsp + little extra cinnamon
• ¾ tsp+ little extra nutmeg powdered
• Rind of a lemon - grate only the yellow part
• 18 eggs (Uses 18 yolks & 9 whites )

Method

CHRISTMAS/ WEDDING CAKE RECIPE

• Mix all the cut fruit & nuts with the jam, add vanilla, almond & brandy. Cover & leave at least overnight. (It can be set aside for longer ). Preheat the oven to 145 Celcius
• Line the tin: 

- inside (bottom and sides) with 3 layers of newspaper and 1 layer of cooking paper
- outside - 4 layers of newspaper tied with string.

• Gently roast the semolina in a saucepan. Stirring at all times. Cream the butter & sugar. Add the 18 egg yolks & continue to beat till well mixed. Mix in the cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon rind. Add the roasted semolina to the mixed fruit & mix. Now add the butter/sugar/egg mix to the mixed fruit/semolina mix. Beat the 9 egg whites until stiff and then fold into the cake batter. Pour into the lined tin. 

• Cut a piece of greaseproof paper to go on top of cake, (but leaving exposed the center of cake exposed) and gently place over the cake. Bake in moderate oven 150 C for approx 2.5 hours or until squwer comes out cleanly.

• For Icing: Use almond flavoured icing. You can soften the icing in microwave, then add some more almond essence & knead if you like. A thin layer of jam is spread on the cake to assist the icing to stick.