Boiled Fruit Cake Delia Smith Food

FABULOUS BOILED FRUITCAKE

Steps:

• Place the sugar, water,margarine, bicarbonate of soda and dried fruit in a medium saucepan and slowly bring to the boil. As soon as it starts to boil, remove and leave to completely cool.
• Add the well beaten egg, mixed spice, pinch of salt, and the flour; mix well.
• Line a 9-inch cake tin. Cook at approximately 170°C for about an hour to an hour and a quarter.
• To stop it drying out while cooling, it's advisable to drape a clean tea towel over the cake after about half an hour.
• NB - if you are in a hurry for the fruit to cool - place saucepan in some cold water in the sink, iit will cool in under half the time.

TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS FRUIT CAKE

Steps:

• The day before you intend to bake the cake, measure out the brandy and port, into a large saucepan. Then add the cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, dried fruits, mixed peel, nuts and zest's. Now stir and bring the mixture up to simmering point, then, keeping the heat low, simmer very gently for 10 minutes. After that allow everything to cool then pour the mixture into an airtight plastic container and leave it in a cool place overnight. Remember to take the butter out of the fridge so it will soften. When you are ready to bake the cake, pre-heat the oven to 140°C, gas mark 1. All you do is measure out the flour, sugar and softened butter into a very large mixing bowl then add the eggs and with an electric whisk, beat until everything is evenly blended. (Use a wooden spoon if you don't have an electric whisk). Now use a large metal spoon to gradually fold in the fruit mixture until it's all evenly distributed. Then spoon the mixture into the prepared tin, levelling the surface with the back of the spoon. Finally cover the top of the cake with a double square of parchment paper with a 50p-size hole in the centre (this gives extra protection during the long slow cooking). Bake the cake in the centre of the oven for 4 hours until it feels springy in the centre when lightly touched. Cool the cake for 45 minutes in the tin, then remove it to a wire rack to finish cooling. When it's completely cold, wrap in double greaseproof paper and then foil and store in an airtight tin or polythene box. This cake eats very well as it is but if your want to use some of the brandy from your storecupboard, you can 'feed' it by making small holes in the top and bottom with a cocktail stick and spoon in a couple of tablespoons of brandy then it wrap it in double baking parchment and foil or store in an airtight tin. You can now 'feed' it at weekly intervals until you eat it as it is or ice it.

BEST BOILED FRUITCAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (160 degrees C). Line one 8 inch deep sided cake tin with parchment paper.
• Place the fruit cherries, peel, walnuts, sugar, butter or margarine, mixed spice, baking soda and milk in a medium sized saucepan. Bring to a boil and simmer for 5 minutes. Let mixture cool to body temperature.
• Stir in the flour and the eggs. Pour batter into the prepared pan. Wrap outside of pan with brown paper or newspaper.
• Bake at 325 degrees F (160 degrees C) for 40 minutes then reduce temperature to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C) and continue to baking cake for 1-1/2 hours. Remove cake from oven and allow it to cool in tin for 5 minutes then turn it out onto a cooling rack, remove greaseproof paper and leave until cool. Cake can be stored for up to 6 months wrapped in foil and in an air tight tin.

BOILED FRUIT CAKE

Steps:

• Place dried fruit, mixed peel, cherries, water, brandy, sugar and butter in pan.
• Heat gently, bring the boil and simmer for 5 minutes.
• Take of heat and add the bicarb soda, stirring through, mixture will foam up a bit. Leave until cold.
• Sift flours and spices.
• Mix the eggs through the fruit mixture, then combine with dry ingredient.
• Pour into a lined 18cm square cake pan or 18cm round cake pan.
• Wet your hand and flatten top of cake.
• Bake at 150C for 1 hour.
• Cool in pan covered with a tea towel.

BOILED FRUIT CAKE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Butter and line a 900g loaf tin with baking parchment. Melt the sugar, butter and 225ml water in a large saucepan. Once melted, add the raisins, sultanas, currants and mixed peel. Bring to a gentle boil, and stirring occasionally, cook until reduced and softened, around 10-15 mins. Remove from the heat and leave to cool to room temperature.
• Tip the flour, mixed spice, bicarbonate of soda and a pinch of salt into a large bowl. Add the cooled fruit mixture and stir, then add the eggs and mix to combine. Bake for 45-55 mins until dark brown and a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean. Leave to cool in the tin for 10 mins, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Cut into slices to serve.