Culture , Lifestyle

Traditional Plum Cake Christmas at its best

There are many things that Christmas is incomplete without. The coming of the families together, the opening of gifts

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There are many things that Christmas is incomplete without. The coming of the families together, the opening of gifts with everyone, the weeks of planning, and decoration; a little green tree by the corner of the room, the chill in the air and the smell of fresh cake from the oven. And not just any cake that is? Christmas is incomplete without its very own traditional Plum Cake. And the reason is that this cake is a result of weeks of preparation where every family member takes initiative. So...this cake is more like the fruits of the labour of the family as a whole. With just weeks to Christmas, there's nothing better than learning this recipe to create a more authentic feel on your Christmas dinner table.

plum-cake

Photo Credit: chotda via Compfight cc Ingredients

Chopped and candied peel of orange 175 gm
Cherries, glazed and quartered 175 gm
Sultanas and currants? 500 gm each
Raisins 350 gm
Almonds roughly chopped 125 gm
Flour 300 gm
Unsalted butter 300 gm
Soft brown sugar 300 gm
Orange rind, grated 1 orange
Eggs 6 large
Brandy 250 to 500 ml
Golden syrup 1 Tsp
Salt, nutmeg and mixed spice 1 Tsp each

Method of Preparation The first thing you need to do is to take all the fruits and nuts, mix them together in a large bowl and soak it in the brandy for at least 7 days. The more you soak it, the greater will be the flavour. On the day of the baking, presumably, the day of Christmas, beat the sugar and butter together until it is creamy, light and fluffy. Add the orange rind and the golden syrup and beat all of them together. Next, add one egg at a time and beat thoroughly to incorporate as much air as possible. Sift the flour with the salt and spices and add to the mixture. This time remember to gently fold the flour into the mixture. Now add the fruits soaked in brandy and incorporate them well into the batter. Take a deep cake tin. Grease it well and line it with grease-proof paper. Pour the cake batter. Preheat the oven to 170 degrees for about 20 minutes. Bake the cake at 150 degrees for about 40 minutes to an hour. Insert a skewer to be sure whether the cake has been cooked or not. Let the cake cool down before you serve. A touch of brandy sauce or rum butter from the top will only heighten the flavours. However, this is purely your choice. This Christmas, let's get back to tradition with this melt-in-your-mouth delicious Plum cake. There can be no alternative to this Christmas treat. So, just take out your shopping bag. Because the sooner you start with the cake, the earlier Christmas will arrive at your doorstep. Ho! Ho! Ho!!