AVOCA’s scrumptions, traditional Glazed Fruit and Nut Whiskey Cake is the perfect marriage of flavours and a cherished staple during the Christmas season.
INGREDIENTS
Fruit Mix
120g sultanas
120g raisins
120g currants
50g cherries
25g mixed peel
1 dessert spoon of Whiskey
Grated zest of ½ an orange
Grated zest of ½ a lemon
Cake Batter
3 eggs – beaten
130g plain flour
100g butter
Half a large apple grated
60g ground almonds
50g light brown sugar
50g dark brown sugar
20g nibbed almonds
1 level teaspoon of mixed spice
1 good pinch of ground cinnamon
Topping
60g of Nappage or apricot jam
60g whole glace cherries
50ml Whiskey
30g flaked almonds
25g whole almonds
METHOD:
- Rinse the dried fruits for the cake in warm water and mix well. Place in a large container with the orange & lemon zest and whiskey and macerate overnight.
- Grate the apple and add to the fruit
- Cream butter the sugar in a food mixer until pale & fluffy.
- Add in one third of the beaten eggs and mix until combined.
- Add in one third of the flour, ground almonds and spices and mix until combined.
- Repeat with eggs and flour until evenly combined
- Add the fruit mix and fold in gently – do not overmix.
- For the topping, mix the half of the cherries and flaked and whole almonds with half of the whiskey. Keep the other half for drizzling over the cake when you remove it from the oven.
- Lightly grease a 5-inch cake tin and line with parchment paper.
- Add the cake mixture and smooth the top down with a rubber spatula, dip it in water beforehand to stop it from sticking.
- Once cooled, drizzle the cake with the remaining whiskey while warm, heat the nappage/apricot jam and drizzle over the remaining nuts and cherries.
COOKING:
- Bake at 130˚C for 2 hours, then reduce to 110˚C for 40-60 minutes.
- Remove from oven when a skewer inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean.
- Remove the cake from the tin and place on a wire rack and let it cool.
ASSEMBLE:
- Once cooled, drizzle the cake with the remaining Whiskey while warm,
- heat the Nappage / apricot jam and drizzle over the nuts and cherries.