Yuletide Nut Cake

Grrrrrgh!
Course : Cakes
From: HungryMonster.com
Serves: 24
 

Ingredients:

250 grams Californian seedless raisins -- (8oz)
375 grams Australian sultanas -- (12oz)
200 gram glace cherries, halved (7oz)
50 grams mixed peel -- (2oz)
100 gram pecan nut halves -- (31/2oz)
100 gram white blanched hazelnuts -- (31/2oz)
100 gram shelled pistachio nuts -- (31/2oz)
1 teaspoon grated rind and juice of 1 large lemon
4 tablespoons brandy -- sherry, port or orange juice
325 grams plain flour -- (11oz)
1 tablespoon ground allspice
65 grams ground almonds -- (21/2oz)
275 grams unrefined soft dark brown sugar -- (9oz)
275 grams butter -- softened (9oz)
2 tablespoons black treacle
5 medium eggs
---CARAMELIZED NUTS
4 tablespoons granulated sugar
4 tablespoons water
50 grams blanched almonds -- (2oz)
50 grams blanched hazelnuts -- (2oz)
---DECORATION (OPTIONAL) -- (optional):
750 grams marzipan -- (11/2lb)
750 grams Easy Ice ready-to-roll icing -- (11/2lb)
 

Preparation:

1. Mix together the dried fruit, cherries, mixed peel, nuts, lemon rind and juice and alcohol or juice in a large bowl, cover and marinate overnight. 2. Grease and line a 20-23cm (8-9inch) round, deep cake tin using a double thickness of greaseproof paper.Tie a double band of brown paper around the outside. 3. Preheat the oven to 140 øC, 275 øF, Gas Mark 1. 4. Sift the flour and spice into a bowl, add the ground almonds, sugar, butter, treacle and eggs, mix well, then beat for 2-3 minutes until smooth and glossy. Fold into the fruit mixture until evenly blended. 5. Spoon the mixture into the prepared tin and smooth the surface with the back of a metal spoon, making a slight depression in the centre. 6. Place on the centre shelf of the preheated oven and bake for approximately 5 hours. Test the cake with a skewer to see if it is cooked 15 minutes before the end of the suggested time. 7. Leave the cake in the tin until cold, then turn out. 8. Serve cake as it is or ice and decorate to as follows. 9. Marzipan cake following instructions on the pack. 10. Cut a circle approximately 10 cm (4 inches) in diameter from the ready to roll fondant icing and place on top of the cake in the centre. 11. Cover the whole cake with fondant icing following instructions on the pack. Make a cross through the top layer of icing just smaller than the circle of icing underneath and carefully peel back the 4 points to open out. Fill the centre with caramelized nuts. 12. To prepare the nuts, heat the sugar and water in a small pan and stir until the sugar has dissolved. Boil for 3-4 minutes until most of the liquid has evaporated and the sugar starts to caramelize and turn golden. 13. Remove from the heat and immediately stir in the nuts. Place small spoonfuls onto greaseproof paper to set and become crisp. 14. Arrange the caramelized nuts in the 4 pointed opening on top of the cake.

 

Nutritional Information:

237 Calories (kcal); 15g Total Fat; (56% calories from fat); 2g Protein; 24g Carbohydrate; 25mg Cholesterol; 101mg Sodium